By Dwyane Harry L. Cabrera

Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws were not able to fend off the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses, 17-25, 17-25, 25-18, 17-25, ending up winless in both rounds in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament earlier today, March 29, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

With the opening frame starting, both teams could not shake each other off, going until an all-14 draw.

Unfortunately, FEU struggled to close up the eight-point deficit built by the España-based squad, 17-25.

Going into the second frame, Lady Tamaraws remained at disadvantage against the gold-and-white squad due to their miscommunications and errors, garnering another 17-25 set loss.

Trailing by six points early in the third set, Ann Asis and Faida Bakanke spearheaded an 11-1 blitz, 16-12.

Lovely Lopez led the late rallies as the team continued to punish the Golden Tigresses to force attack errors, 25-18.

Looking to build their momentum, the green-and-gold squad banked on their kill blocks and UST’s net and attack errors to close the gap to six in the fourth set, 8-14.

Nearing the end of the match, Lopez, Alyzza Devosora, and Bakanke attempted to turn the match around but failed to find their footing, eventually ending the match at 16-25.

During the post-game conference, Golden Tigresses assistant coach Yani Fernandez acknowledged how the win gave them a morale boost, also now switching the season sweep narrative. 

“The implications of the standing, talagang malaking bagay sa amin ‘yung panalo… Closing this second round with FEU, malaking bagay din ito especially sa morale din ng team namin, especially sa rival namin na FEU. Last season ata, hindi kami nanalo sa FEU (Today is a big win. It also gave us a big morale boost, especially against our rival FEU, considering we did not win against them last season),” he expressed. 

Despite the loss, Bakanke put up 13 points on nine attacks and four blocks, while Lopez listed 11 markers.

Now sitting at a 6-4 win-loss record, the Morayta-based squad looks to stabilize their ranking against De La Salle University next week Wednesday, April 8, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)