FEU firms up Final 4 bid, sweeps NU in first straight-set win
Credit to Author: JOSEF T. RAMOS, TMT| Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:19:40 +0000
FAR Eastern University (FEU) claimed its first straight set triumph of the season after sweeping National University (NU), 25-21, 25-19, 25-22, in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City on Wednesday.
Riding on their strong offense throughout the three sets, the Lady Tamaraws, starring veterans Heather Guino-o and Jerrili Malabanan, were unstoppable as they bagged their eighth win against four losses to strengthen their bid in the Final Four.
“We need a higher energy level and our mindset is we cannot afford to lose,” said FEU coach George Pascua in Filipino, who praised his players’ impressive performance after winning back-to-back. “Everything goes well for us and I hope we sustain it.”
“It is not necessary to win by straight sets. What important is to win whether by fourth or fifth set.”
Guino-o and Malabanan delivered 11 and 10 kills respectively to lead the Lady Tamaraws.
Kyle Negrito and Jeanette Villareal took care of FEU’s defensive game by posting three blocks each.
“We are happy of this first straight set victory. We just keep our energy going and we did a good job,” said Malabanan.
The Lady Tamaraws lost a 22-19 cushion as the Lady Bulldogs tied the count at 22.
But Guino-o restored FEU’s lead with a strong hit and NU’s Princess Robles committed an error in the ensuing play before Villareal blocked Robles’ spike to seal the win.
The Lady Bulldogs dropped to 3-9.
In the men’s division, Adamson University returned to the Final Four after two years by beating University of the East (UE), 27-25, 25-17, 25-15, to post an 8-4 win-loss record with still two games left in the elimination round.
Ateneo De Manila University blanked University of Santo Tomas (UST), 25-22, 25-17, 25-19, to improve its win-loss record to 8-4 and earn its sixth consecutive semifinals appearance.
UE fell to 2-10 while UST, already out of contention in the Final Four race, has a 4-8 record.
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