Lady Tams stay alive in V-League finals after late successful challenge

FEU Advocate
October 02, 2024 21:38

By Vince Matthew Jaramilla

In what seemed like a decided match, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws averted elimination in the hands of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses, 25-22, 22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 17-15, to extend the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge finals earlier today, October 2, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

FEU head coach Tina Salak called for a net fault challenge after a supposed match point delivery by UST setter Cassie Carballo.

In an unexpected twist, the challenge turned out to be successful, shifting the score from 13-15 to 14-14. This opportunity was enough for the Lady Tamaraws to snag the match win through a 17-15 finish in the clincher set.

In a post-game interview with FEU Advocate, Player of the Game Jazlyn Ellarina stated how they were put at ease by their coaches' confidence during the late challenge.

"Confident kasi 'yung coaches namin nu'ng tinawag nila 'yung challenge na 'yun so kaming players, parang na-[put] at ease kami kasi alam namin na 'yung coaches namin, nakita nila na net touch talaga 'yun (The coaches were confident when they called the challenge so us players, it's like we were put at ease because we knew that our coaches really saw that it was a net touch)," she said.

The Lady Tamaraws lost game one of the finals, 25-22, 25-18, 25-14.

Hoping to bounce back, the green-and-gold volleybelles started well as they enjoyed a 15-12 lead midway through the first set.

An exchange of runs would follow as UST launched a 5-0 streak, which was then countered by FEU's 7-1 to have a four-point cushion, 22-18.

With four match point opportunities from the 24-20 mark, the Lady Tams were able to close out the set, 25-22.

The Morayta squad continued their strong play in the next frame, matching up well with the España-based team in a back-and-forth affair. This resulted in a tie even late in the set, 17-17.

However, FEU suffered a 0-3 slump, enough to give UST a decent advantage. This deficit was enough for the Golden Tigresses to run away from the Lady Tams as the set closed with the same lead, 22-25.

To start the third set, green-and-gold hitters Faida Bakanke and Lovely Lopez scoring two each was not enough to snatch momentum, 5-8.

FEU would keep playing close behind UST without taking the lead, only getting to do so for the first time in the set at 19-18 after an attack error by Tigress Carballo.

Fortunately, momentum continued to swing towards the Morayta volleybelles through consistent spiking and the España squad's continued errors, enough to grab another frame, 25-22.

Despite an 8-8 kickoff to the fourth set, the Lady Tamaraws showcased promising offense as all green-and-gold hitters already scored.

After keeping the frame tight until 17-16, another slump of 2-9 plagued FEU, losing it and extending to a clincher set, 19-25.

FEU started the final frame down, 5-8, and would keep struggling until 9-13 which forced head coach Salak to burn both of her timeouts.

While all hopes were seemingly lost, Lopez's two attacks rallied a 4-0 run to tie the game at 13-all, which then continued to the supposed victory and clutch challenge by Coach Salak.

Having forced a do-or-die match, Ellarina expressed the team's joy and motivation as they moved forward.

"Sobrang happy po [namin] kasi 'yung hard work namin, nag-[pay] off po. Talagang minanifest po namin 'to and, thankfully, nagawa namin siya into reality. Sa susunod na match, mas gagalingan pa namin–triple 'yung hard work na gagawin namin (We're so happy because our hard work paid off. We really manifested this and, thankfully, we made it into reality. In the next match, we will do better–our hard work will be tripled)," she stated.