Lady Tams top Blue Eagles

Far Eastern U firmed up its hold of the coveted spot inside the Final Four with a 25-22, 22-25, 25-13, 25-21, win over Ateneo to end the first round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Chenie Tagaod was everywhere with 18 points on 15 hits laced by 10 digs and 13 receptions as the Lady Tamaraws climbed to 4-3 to create a comfortable separation from Ateneo (2-5) for the fourth spot entering the crucial second round.

Rookie Faida Bakanke (12), Jean Asis (12) and Gerzel Petallo (10) joined the party on the offensive side but it was the Lady Tamaraws’ defensive masterclass with 15 blocks that spelled the difference.

Bakanke and Petallo accounted for almost half of FEU’s total blocks with four and three swats, respectively, as Ateneo only had two in the entire match that lasted exactly two hours.

“Talagang gutom din manalo ang Ateneo katulad namin. Hindi mo sila pwedeng biruin so ‘yung respeto, nandoon pa rin. Gagalaw at gagalaw, lalaban at lalaban sila. Kailangan mas gutom kami,” said coach Manolo Refugia.

Later, tUniversity of the Philippines (1-6) drubbed the University of the East (1-6), 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-17, to dodge a winless campaign in the first round.

Five players hit twin digits led by Stephanie Bustrillo’s 24 points as the Fighting Maroons handed new coach Oliver Almadro his first win.

Super rookie Casiey Dongallo fired a game-high 26 points but the Lady Warriors slid to their sixth straight defeat after a historic win against Ateneo for the first time in 14 years back in the opener.