After a win drought against De La Salle University (DLSU) since 2019, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws finally prevailed against the Lady Spikers, 25-20, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23, concluding their last elimination game of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament earlier today, April 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

While they brushed off their post-vacation blues, the Lady Tamaraws set the tone in the Big Dome with a 25-20 first-set win.

It was not long until the green-and-gold volleybelles began to scramble at the start of the second frame under DLSU’s receiving efforts, together with Angel Canino’s offensive strides.

With so little leeway and increased pressure, it became a prolonged back-and-forth exchange until the 40-minute mark. Fortunately, FEU’s Gerzel Petallo’s late attacks brought the tally to 28-26, winning the second set.

Both teams decided to play the long game entering the third frame, with FEU struggling to get past DLSU's tough defense.

Hoping to close the match with a straight-set win, team Morayta unfortunately crumbled under pressure at the last minute, trailing by five to the Taft-based squad, 20-25.

It was still a seesaw-game entering into the fourth set, not until the Lady Tams’ momentum was put at risk due to a long conferring among the match officials over the Lady Spikers’ rotational error at the 21-21 standstill. 

Not wanting to extend the match any longer, the Tina Salak-led squad kept their composure and took advantage of DLSU losing momentum, capping things off in a 25-23 victory.

Petallo spearheaded FEU’s offensive line with 19 points on 16 attacks, while team captain Tin Ubaldo recorded 22 excellent sets. 

In the post-game conference, the outside hitter acknowledged the team’s collective efforts.

“I’m very proud po sa team kasi pinaghirapan po talaga namin ‘yung game. Hindi po talaga  naging madali ‘yung laro… full effort po lahat-lahat. Proud din po ako sa self ko, kasi may ganun pala akong laro (I’m very proud of the team because we truly gave it our all. The game was not easy by any means… full effort was required. I’m also proud of myself, because I never knew I had such a performance),” she mentioned.

Ubaldo emphasized the extra effort they need to exert entering the Final Four.

“Ready naman po kami, pero meron pa rin kaming kailangang trabahuhin sa part namin kasi Final Four, semis, hindi siya madali, mas mahirap ‘yung labanan (I’d say we are ready, but we still need to work harder because the Final Four, the semis, it’s not easy. The stakes are higher),” she expressed.

Still sitting at fourth place, the Lady Tamaraws look to double their efforts and capitalize on their Final Four spot to inch themselves closer to a championship. The final standings and playoff matchups will to be determined after the final games tomorrow, April 27.
- Joshua Kyle Beltran
(Photo by Zedrich Xylak Madrid/FEU Advocate)