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Gerzel Petallo, Mitzi Panangin, and multiple other FEU standouts put up huge defensive numbers to help the Lady Tamaraws fend off Ateneo in another thrilling UAAP five-set showdown
MANILA, Philippines – After being hailed a contender even before the start of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament, FEU finally lived up to its lofty billing off a five-set defensive masterclass against Ateneo, 25-15, 20-25, 25-17, 24-26, 15-11, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 2.
With the much-needed win after a two-game slide, the Lady Tamaraws forged a four-way logjam at third place with a 2-2 record, tying La Salle, Adamson and UP in the process. The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, dropped to 1-3 just above winless UE at 0-4.
Gerzel Petallo had her fingerprints all over the hotly-contested match, posting 18 points off 14 attacks and 4 of the team’s massive 20-block total, plus 14 excellent receptions and 9 excellent digs.
Faida Bakanke scored 15 with 10 spikes and 5 rejections, while Mitzi Panangin erupted for 6 blocks and 5 attacks in just four sets played for an 11-point total.
Deflated after giving up a razor-thin fourth-set result to Ateneo, FEU still kept in step with its no-quit foe in the deciding fifth frame, taking a 9-8 lead off a Panangin block on Lyann de Guzman, before a Bakanke double-contact error for the 9-all tie.
Despite De Guzman’s best efforts, the Ateneo senior spiker got denied three times in FEU’s pivotal 4-0 breakaway for a 13-9 separation, further complicated by a costly Taks Fujimoto service error for match point, 14-10.
De Guzman’s off-speed hit, 14-11, did little to change the inevitable outcome as Bakanke hammered one last hit for the skid-snapping win.
De Guzman led all scorers in the sorry loss with a triple-double of 23 points, 12 excellent receptions, and 11 excellent digs, albeit on a frigid 21-of-74 attacking clip. Resurgent Sobe Buena scored 18 to backstop her captain, as Fujimoto tossed up a season-best 23 excellent sets. – Rappler.com
