Injury-hit FEU regains form, survives Adamson
Credit to Author: JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA| Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2019 16:20:43 +0000
Veterans Jerilli Malabanan and Celine Domingo delivered in the clutch as Far Eastern University outlasted Adamson University, 30-32, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13, for a rebound win to start the second round of Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Team captain Malabanan and third-year blocker Domingo scored the last two points for the Lady Tamaraws, who needed to buck the absence of super rookie Lycha Ebon in the fifth set to jumpstart the second round with a bounce-back victory.
“Fortunately, we were able to handle the situation,” said FEU head coach George Pascua, whose squad rebounded from a 15-25, 19-25, 24-26 sweep to De La Salle University.
Ebon sizzled with a game-high 19 points on 16 kills, two blocks and an ace before getting stretchered out early in the last set due to a right knee injury.
Heather Anne Guinoo chipped in 14 points while Malabanan tallied eight markers and Domingo added six.
“Since I am the captain, he (Pascua) wants me to be the one who leads the team,” said Malabanan.
Czarina Carandang and Ivana Agudo stepped up in the absence of Ebon, finishing with eight and four points, respectively.
It was another grueling five-setter for the Morayta-based volleybelles against their counterparts from San Marcelino, repeating their 25-18, 17-25, 25-14, 22-25, 15-8 triumph in the first round.
After saving FEU in the fourth set, Ebon suffered a knee injury following a bad fall early in the deciding frame.
Pascua called in Agudo who combined forces with Carandang to push the Lady Tamaraws up, 11-6.
But the Lady Falcons unleashed a 7-2 run capped by Bern Flora’s strong spike to knot the game at 13-all.
Malabanan sent a down-the-line spike before Domingo hammered out a block to hand FEU the hard-earned win.
Eli Soyud had a team-best 17 points, Joy Dacoron and Chiara Permentilla had 15 markers apiece even as Flora had 11 for Adamson.
The Lady Falcons fell to their fourth straight defeat as they sank deeper down the cellar with a 1-7 slate.
Earlier in the men’s division, La Salle fired off the second round with a 27-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-23 upset over University of Santo Tomas (UST).
Chris Bernard Dumago chalked 18 points to lead three other Green Spikers in double-digit scoring as they tied the skidding Tiger Spikers at No. 5 with a similar 3-5 card.
University of the Philippines finally got its breakthrough victory at the expense of University of the East in a five-setter, 25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-11.
UP remained at the bottom with 1-7 while UE stayed at No. 7 with a 2-6 slate.
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