By Angel Joyce C. Basa

Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws absorbed a loss against the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, 22-25, 26-24, 24-26, 18-25, to end their two-game win streak for the second elimination round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 women’s volleyball tourney earlier today, March 30, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

From the get-go, both teams played a neck-and-neck point game, refusing to give free points to their opponents. NU took the first point of the first set with FEU answering back with three, rallying off an exchange in service errors between Lady Tams Jazlyn Ellarina and Faida Bakanke, and Lady Bulldog Alyssa Solomon.

Towards the end of the set, the Jhocson-based team pulled away with a three-point lead, enough to keep the Lady Tamaraws behind until the last point, 22-25.

The second frame started the same way, showing a consistent point exchange between the two teams, but FEU took their first big lead from a 4-1 run, 14-9.

Following the run, the lead stayed comfortably with the green-and-gold squad until NU’s Erin Pangilinan scored back-to-back service aces to put the set at a deadlock, 19-19. Despite this, the FEU squad persisted through to end the extended frame in their favor,  26-24.

After an encouraging set, the latter half of the match remained tight-scored as the blue-and-gold ladies extended the third frame, 24-26. 

FEU continued to rally behind NU until the very last set as the match ended with the Lady Bulldogs pressing a seven-point lead against the Morayta-based volleybelles to redeem themselves from a streak-ending loss versus University of the Philippines (UP), 18-25.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, team captain Tin Ubaldo saw a silver lining despite facing their second loss from the champion team.

“Na-feel namin ‘yung team namin na, alam mo ‘yun, na may grit, na hindi na lang basta-bastang papayag na matalo na lang nang ganun. ‘Yung brighter side pa rin ‘yung tinitignan namin (We felt that our team had grit, that we wouldn't let ourselves lose that way. We are still looking at the brighter side),” she said.

Despite the loss, three Lady Tamaraws produced double digits with Bakanke leading off 21 points from 18 attacks and three blocks, while Jean Asis and Ellarina followed with 16 and 15 markers, respectively.

Now at a 6-4 win-loss tally, the Morayta-based squad remains at the third spot as they await their next match against UP next Sunday, April 6, at the same venue.

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)