FEU volleybelles survive UST, book last semis ticket

MANILA, Philippines -- Far Eastern University won a third straight do-or-die match, nipping University of Santo Tomas, 25-21, 25-15, 20-25, 16-25, 15-6, to bag the remaining semifinals berth in the UAAP Season 77 women's volleyball tournament Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.        
       
The Lady Tamaraws used their solid blocking in the deciding frame to thwart the Tigresses' attacks at the net to avert a huge collapse after winning the first two frames.       
      
"Thank God, kasi naka-survive kami sa fifth set. Nakikita namin yung kumpiyansa ng bawat isa na kahit down kami, kaya naming maka-recover," said FEU coach Shaq delos Santos.       
       
Bernadette Pons had 17 hits and 12 digs, Geneveve Casugod also had 17 points, including five blocks, while rookie Heather Guino-o had a career-game 17 points for the Lady Tamaraws.       
       
FEU will now play third seed National University in the first step-ladder match, a knockout affair, on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The survivor will take on twice-to-beat De La Salle in the second step-ladder game.        
       
In men's play, Ateneo survived a third set bump to eliminate Adamson University, 25-16, 25-12, 26-28, 25-20, and march to the Finals for the second straight season.    
      
Ysay Marasigan came through with 23 points, including five blocks and four service aces, and collected nine digs, while reigning MVP Marck Espejo drilled in 22 hits for the Eagles.        
       
Ateneo, however, will have to wait until Saturday to determine its opponent in the best-of-three series as titleholder NU extended its Final Four series with UST, using its rich experience to the hilt to hammer out a 26-24, 28-26, 23-25, 25-21 victory.     
         
"The players really worked hard. I'm glad na hindi umabot ng five sets or ng isa pang game," said Eagles coach Oliver Almadro. "Although Marck Espejo is our go-to guy, we have to maximize ng lahat ng spikers. Talented silang lahat."     
       
Ateneo thus duplicated the feat of its women's and boys' volleyball squad where they also made it to the championship round this season.      
       
It was the Tigresses' third straight Final Four exit, as they failed to sustain the fightback led by rookie Cherry Rondina in the third and fourth set.      
        
Pam Lastimosa had 19 points and six digs in her final game for UST, while Rondina and Ria Meneses tossed in 11 markers.
       
The Tigresses forced the game's last deadlock at 2-2 before the Lady Tamaraws rediscovered the form that won the first two sets behind Pons to put the game beyond reach at 13-4.       
       
Peter Torres had four blocks to finish with 19 points, while Berlin Paglinawan also came through with 19 hits as the Bulldogs overcame Growling Tigers' ace Mark Alfafara's record-breaking performance of 37 points.         
       
"Yung UST matagal na nawala sa Final Four kaya sobrang advantage kami (sa experience)," said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin.        
       
The Bulldogs and the Tigers clash in a do-or-die duel for a spot in Finals at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Big Dome.       
      
Alfafara, who is playing his final season for UST, broke the old scoring mark of 36 points by Edjet Mabbayad in Far Eastern University's 23-25, 25-23, 25-14, 24-26, 15-9 over University of the Philippines on Dec. 19, 2007.