Lady Tams wrest 3rd spot; UP survives UST challenge

A STINGING loss got Far Eastern University all fired up as the Lady Tamaraws whipped National University in straight sets, 25-22, 2521, 25-21, in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at Filoil Flying V Arena.

Refusing to fold up this time, the Lady Tamaraws leaned on Bernadeth Pons and Toni Rose Basas to wrest the third spot from their victims with a 4-3 record.

“It’s good that we’re seeing improvements,” said FEU coach Shaq delos Santos.

Pons unloaded all of her 18 points off attacks in the surprisingly quick win that came four days after the Lady Tamaraws blew a twoset advantage against Adamson.

Basas also delivered 11 kills and five of the Lady Tamaraws’ eight aces for a 16-point performance.

“We really regretted that loss [to Adamson],” said Delos Santos. “But good thing, ev- eryone became more disciplined.”

University of the Philippines, meanwhile, recovered from a third-set slip to hack out a grueling 25-19, 25-18, 16-25, 32-30 win over University of Santo Tomas.

“We definitely need these kind of games,” said coach Jerry Yee after his Lady Maroons climbed to a share of fourth spot with the Lady Bulldogs at 3-3.

“[The team is] fun to watch but we still have a long way to go.”

Rookie Diana Carlos tallied five blocks in a 15-point outing, while Nicole Tiamzon added 14 points as the duo also delivered in the extended fourth set to power the Lady Maroons.

UST tied the match for the last time at 30 after a Cherry Rondina hit.

But the Tigresses failed to follow through as Chlodia Cortez’s service error put the Lady Maroons at match point.

Marian Buitre’s block on Rondina wrapped up the game.