MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern University wasted a golden opportunity to barge straight into the stepladder playoff as Ateneo de Manila University walloped them in three sets, 25-17, 25-19, 25-16, in the 76th UAAP Women’s Volleyball tournament, Sunday, February 16, at The Arena in San Juan City.
The result gave Adamson University a shimmer of hope as the Lady Tamaraws will have to face them in a do-or-die playoff on Wednesday to determine who will complete the Final Four who will slug it out in a stepladder format.
It was a smooth-sailing afternoon for the number three-seeded Lady Eagles as they relied on the league’s leading scorer in Alyssa Valdez, who poured in 21 points to deal FEU a third straight defeat and improve Ateneo’s record to 10-4.
The Lady Tams, meanwhile, ended the season at 6-8 to arrange a final battle for the last postseason berth with the Lady Falcons who holds an identical record after the eliminations.
Riding on a three-game winning streak, Ateneo came out big even if it was already a non-bearing game to them, shutting down FEU’s offense with no Tamaraw finishing in double figures today.
Rookie Michelle Morente continues her fine form for the Katipunan-based side, tallying in 14 points as FEU’s leading scorer and Rookie of the Year contender Bernadette Pons was limited to just four markers in this all-important match for the Tams.
Samantha Dawson was the lone bright spot for FEU as she finished with a team-high nine points but it was not enough against a spirited Ateneo squad who will face the winner of the Wednesday knockout match between the Tamaraws and Adamson.
De La Salle secured an outright finals berth with a thrice-to-beat advantage yesterday after a come-from-behind victory over National University to sweep the eliminations and send the Final Four into a stepladder skirmish.
The Lady Bulldogs, meanwhile, who finishes second gains a twice-to-beat edge over the winner of the Ateneo and either FEU or Adamson tiff. – Rappler.com
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