V-League: Pons, Palma shine as FEU blasts CSB

MANILA, Philippines – Far Eastern University welcomed the return of Rachel Ann Daquis as guest player while its young guns stepped up big time to post a 25-18, 25-18, 25-17 victory over College of St. Benilde to begin their quarterfinals campaign in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 First Conference on Sunday, May 4 at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Bernadette Pons top scored for the Lady Tamaraws as the power-hitting spiker tallied 17 points on 15 attacks while lanky Remy Palma added 12 hits for FEU who also got 10 markers apiece from Daquis and fellow national team member Jovelyn Gonzaga. 

“Malaking bagay si Rachel kasi ‘yung iba bata pa,” said Lady Tamaraws head coach Shaq Delos Santos of his prized volleybelle, who played for Ateneo in last year’s edition of the tournament. (Rachel is huge for us. Others in the team are young.) 

The Morayta-based volleybelles relied on its balanced offensive attack and solid floor defense to manhandle the Lady Blazers all throughout the match as Pons, Palma, Daquis and Gonzaga took turns in punishing an out-of-sync CSB.

The Lady Blazers could only come to as close as 13-16 in the third set on Janine Navarro’s kill but the Lady Tamaraws doused cold water to CSB’s run as Yna Papa shoved them into match point with a service ace, 24-16 before Michelle Datuin’s hit went outside to seal FEU’s win. Papa also had 21 excellent sets in the match for FEU, who improved to 1-1 in the quarters while sending their victims out of contention with a 0-2 record. 

Navarro and team captain Therese Veronas carried the fight for the Lady Blazers, scoring 11 points each.

Scores

FEU – Pons 17, Palma 12, Daquis 10, Gonzaga 10, Papa 3, Casugod 2, Torres 1

CSB – Navarro 11, Veronas 11, Panaga 6, Datuin 4, Loren 1, Ramos 1, Cheng 1

By set: 25-18, 25-18, 25-17

– Rappler.com