By Leiniel A. Santos

Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraw rookie Lovely Lopez shined to conclude the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses' journey, 25-13, 18-25, 16-25, 25-18, 15-10, in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals earlier today, July 13, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila City.

The rising rookie scored 13 points all from attacks with 48% success rate.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Lopez shared that they won the game with improved connections.

“Actually po ‘yung call-out and communication sa loob ng court ‘yung nakatulong po talaga (Actually, the call-out and communication inside the court really helped),” she said.

FEU’s rookie playmaker Karylle Miranda started the match putting pressure on UST’s defense as she successfully scored an ace and forced back-to-back overreceives, 3-0.

The green-and-gold squad continued to show dominance through Lopez's and Florize Anne Papa’s attacks to end the first set with a 12-point lead.

However, the Lady Tams failed to maintain their momentum in the second set as they struggled to send in their serves.

Despite the return of Faida Bakanke and team captain Tin Ubaldo, the Morayta-based squad failed to counter España’s Marga Altea on the opposite side.

While Lady Tam Lopez's effort stopped UST’s 5-0 run, FEU still lost the second set via service error, 18-25.

During the third set, FEU’s change of starting open hitters Chenie Tagaod and Melody Pons was not effective to bring back their momentum.

Head coach Manolo Refugia brought in FEU’s former UAAP starting six but it was still not enough to steal the set, 16-25.

Coach Refugia effectively shuffled his cards in the fourth set with the trio of Gerzel Petallo, Lopez, and Tagaod as FEU’s wing spikers. 

Tagaod's seven points from six attacks in the opposite side and an ace only in the fourth frame forced a deciding set.

The green-and-gold squad then successfully brought their momentum in the fifth set with an early four-point lead, 6-2.

However, the Kungfu Reyes-led squad executed a 3-0 run which compelled Coach Refugia to call a timeout. FEU then ended the match courtesy of Lopez’s hit, 15-10.

Lopez mentioned that they lost the third and fourth set because the team lacked communication.

“Siguro nakulangan lang sa communication sa loob ng court and parang nagpadala po kami sa mga errors namin kaya po gano’n ‘yung nangyari (Maybe there was just a lack of communication inside the court and it seems like we were affected by our errors that's why it happened),” she said.

Jean Asis was also a key to FEU’s win with 17 points from 11 attacks, five blocks, and an ace.

FEU will face the winner of the match between De La Salle College of St. Benilde and Enderun Colleges in a do-or-die semifinal tomorrow, July 14, at the same venue. 

(Photo by Zedrich Xylak Madrid/FEU Advocate)