By Andrei M. Barrantes

Far Eastern University (FEU) found themselves on the wrong side of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament history as the Lady Tamaraws failed to suppress Shaina Nitura and the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons in a 25-14, 27-29, 22-25, 22-25 loss today, April 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

With FEU on the brink of clinching their second straight Final Four appearance, their playoff hopes came to a halt at the hands of the Soaring Falcons, who continue to disrupt the standings despite being out of the final four picture.

The Lady Tams had an opening scare against Adamson thanks to their efficient offense, getting most of their attacks to go and clinching their only victorious set, 25-14.

Adamson brought the energy in the following set. However, correcting course and jump-starting with an early cushion, and getting four blocks against FEU.

Though the Lady Tams would crawl back and chip away multiple single-digit leads, the extended set would end with back-to-back attack errors from Gerz Petallo and Faida Bakanke, tying the game, 1-1.

In the third set, FEU continued to struggle as a result of multiple errors and the consistent firepower from Adamson.

Despite the late 4-0 run to trim the lead to as low as two, Nitura sealed the lead with the set point off the block, 22-25.

At this point of the match, an alarming amount of FEU’s points only came from errors from the San Marcelino squad. Despite the boost from opponent faults, the Lady Tams still trailed within striking distance.

Things continued to go sideways for the Morayta-based squad as they remained unable to find the answers to Nitura, who sealed the game with 37 points while also breaking the single-season scoring record of 312 points set by Alyssa Valdez in Season 77.

Petallo led the way for FEU with 18 points on 15 attacks and two blocks, while team captain Tin Ubaldo efficiently orchestrated 18 excellent sets. 

Another veteran spiker in double-digits was Chenie Tagaod, who powered through 12 points, seven digs, and seven receptions. However, she was questionably absent in the tightly contested fourth set.

With FEU now at an 8-5 win-loss record and University of Santo Tomas rising to 8-4 earlier today, both Sampaloc squads will swap places on the standings, good for 3rd and 4th.

While this loss delays FEU’s clinching of a playoff spot, should the University of the Philippines lose tomorrow against De La Salle University (DLSU), the Lady Tams will officially secure a trip to the postseason.

The green-and-gold squad will conclude their elimination round on April 26 against the DLSU Lady Spikers at the same venue. 

(Photo by Krystoffer Zyanel Bermudez/FEU Advocate)