Far Eastern University’s Gerzel Petallo against De La Salle University’s blockers in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. Photo from UAAP Media/Neo Garcia.
MANILA (UPDATED) — Far Eastern University stunned De La Salle University as the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball Final 4 continues to take shape.
The Lady Tamaraws displayed great poise in pulling off a 25-20, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23 triumph against the Lady Spikers during their Round 2 ender, Saturday evening at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
FEU finished with a 9-5 win-loss record following the result. Despite the win, they will still enter the Final 4 as the No. 4 seed and will take on defending champion and top-seeded National University in the semifinals with a twice-to-beat disadvantage.
Gerz Petallo fired 19 points on 16 attacks, two aces, and a block, and she complemented these with 11 receptions and eight digs.
"I'm very proud po, kasi pinag hirapan po talaga namin yung win," said Petallo as FEU finally won over La Salle for the first time since April 28, 2019, in Season 81. "Full effort po lahat talaga. I'm very proud rin po ako of myself kasi may ganun rin po pala akong laro."
Also among those who stood out were Jaz Ellarina (13 points, four digs), Faida Bakanke (10 points), Chenie Tagaod (10 points) and Lovely Lopez (eight points).
FEU will be entering as the fourth-seeded squad despite the possibility of a triple tie being still in place, as the Lady Tamaraws hold an inferior set ratio even in the event that University of Santo Tomas (9-4) lose tomorrow in three sets.
Still, they can bank on how they showed composure even with the Lady Spikers holding an advantage as the game neared its end.
Down 22-21, Bakanke tied the contest with a crosscourt kill, while a Shevana Laput error gave FEU a 23-22 advantage.
A Petallo ace then put the Lady Tams at match point, and while Angel Canino had one last kill to keep La Salle alive, Lopez managed to seal the victory with a crosscourt hit.
With the loss, the Lady Spikers, who also finished at 9-5, are now hoping for the Golden Tigresses to drop its game tomorrow against the Lady Bulldogs.
In this scenario, DLSU and UST will be battling on Wednesday for the last twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinals.
Canino finished with an impressive 24-point, 11-reception, 10-dig game, Laput followed with 12 markers, while Jyne Soreño had 11.