FEU's Chenie Tagaod in action against UST in the bronze medal match of the Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship, November 24, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Handout/SSLMANILA -- Far Eastern University twice overhauled a one-set deficit to stun the University of Santo Tomas and claim the bronze medal in the 2024 Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship.
The Lady Tamaraws recovered from setbacks in the opener and again in the third frame to record a 20-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12 triumph, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
They leaned on their net defense to create some separation in Set 5 before hanging tough in the closing stretch.
Jaz Ellarina accounted for three of FEU's five kill blocks in the decider to finish with 13 points, while Gerzel Petallo and Faida Bakanke provided solid support with 11 and 10 markers, respectively. As a team, the Lady Tams finished with 17 kill blocks.
Chenie Tagaod and Alyzza Devosora added nine points each while seasoned setter Tin Ubaldo tallied 18 excellent sets on top of four markers for FEU, which took down UST in straight sets in their second round meeting.
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"Syempre nakaka-proud kasi natapos namin ‘yung pre-season, kasi ito na ‘yung last na pre-season na sasalihan [namin] and nakaka-proud. Proud kami nila coach Tina (Salak) na may pasok pa rin sa podium kaya ayun masaya," FEU assistant coach Manolo Refugia said.
The FEU Lady Tamaraws celebrate after winning the bronze medal in the 2024 Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship against UST, November 24, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Handout/SSLThe Lady Tamaraws, runners-up in the National Invitationals last July, carried the momentum of their dominating fourth set win into the deciding frame as they raced to a 9-4 advantage after back-to-back kill blocks by Bakanke and Ubaldo.
Refusing to go down without a fight, the Tigresses behind Kyla Cordora, Pia Abbu and Angge Poyos mounted a telling run to breathe down FEU’s neck, 11-10.
A costly service error by Cordora gave the Lady Tamaraws an opening to regain their bearing as Ubaldo and Devosora scored in the frame’s next three points to move at match point, 14-11.
Poyos saved a point before Ellarina sealed the deal with a kill to end the two-hour, 36-minute winner-take-all battle for third.
Poyos finished with 21 points anchored on 20 spikes and one ace while Jonna Perdido added 11 markers before suffering a left knee injury midway in the fourth set for UST.
Regina Jurado got 10 points while Cordora scored seven in a lost cause.