The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws booked a ticket to the Final Four after surviving the gritty Adamson Lady Falcons in the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball tournament Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Tamaraws rebounded from a massive third set collapse, 25-22, 25-27, 14-25, 25-22, 15-11, to notch their eighth win in 12 games and enter the semifinals for the fourth year in a row.
It was a total team effort for FEU, but it was team captain Bernadeth Pons who shone the most, pouring in a monster triple-double of 22 points, 23 digs, and 24 excellent receptions.
Celine Domingo anchored their net defense with six kill blocks, to go with 12 spikes for a total of 18 points. Chin-Chin Basas and Heather Guino-o combined for eight aces and contributed 16 and 12 markers, respectively. Kyle Negrito, meanwhile, tallied 45 excellent sets.
Despite giving away 41 points off their errors, the Lady Tams still found ways to emerge victorious, relying on their mental fortitude in the deciding fifth set.
FEU fended off a 5-0 run by the Lady Falcons, which turned an 8-5 lead to an 8-10 deficit. After suing for time, Pons took charge in the closing stretch. The skipper scored in a variety of ways to spark a 7-2 counter-rally that ended the match.
Jema Galanza paced Adamson with 16 points and 15 receptions, aided by Mylene Paat's 15 markers. Playmaker Fhen Emnas was all over the floor as she finished with 40 excellent sets and 16 digs.
With the loss, the Lady Falcons missed a golden opportunity to force a tie with NU (6-6) at the number four spot. Now sporting a 5-7 card, their remaining games against La Salle and UST are virtually must-win situations for them to stay in contention.
In the second game, the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons kept their playoff hopes alive after sweeping the Ateneo Lady Eagles, 28-26, 24-23, 26-24.
Tots Carlos delivered 22 points, including the match-clinching blow, to tow her team to this all-important victory that improved their record to 5-8. Isa Molde chipped in with 13 points and ten excellent receptions.
After eking out wins in the tightly-contested first two sets, the Lady Maroons clawed back from a 15-21 hole in the third period. They inched within one point, 22-23, after a tough 7-2 stand capped off by a quick hit from Jessma Ramos. Carlos, however, committed an attack error that sent the Lady Eagles to set point.
Carlos made up for her miscue by finding an opening between her blockers in the next play. They then built a wall to deny Bea de Leon and Jho Maraguinot from forcing a fourth set. A miscommunication on the part of Ateneo pushed the Lady Maroons ahead before Carlos sealed the deal with an emphatic smash.
Kat Tolentino dropped 15 points for the second-seeded Lady Eagles (9-4), whose five-game win streak ended as they absorbed their first loss in the second round.