Lady Tams keep win streak

By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Games Today
(The Arena, San Juan City)
8 a.m. – UP vs NU (Men’s)
10 a.m. – UE vs Adamson (Men’s)
2 p.m. – UP vs NU (Women’s)
4 p.m. – UE vs Adamson (Women’s)

Far Eastern University sustained its winning drive as it outlasted gritty University of Santo Tomas, 25-16, 25-22, 25-20, yesterday in UAAP women’s volleyball at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Lady Tamaraws benefited a lot from the service area after drilling 12 aces to clinch their fourth straight victory and close their first round campaign with a 5-2 mark.

It was also a fitting follow up to a 25-22, 25-27, 25-13, 25-20 thumping of National University in a win that ended the Lady Bulldogs’ five-game winning streak.

Though none from FEU scored in double figures, everybody contributed a little of everything with Toni Basas and Celine Domingo sharing scoring honors with eight points apiece.

UST overpowered FEU in attacks, 35-28, but the Tigresses’ erratic plays that saw them commit 29 errors led to their downfall.

The Lady Tamaraws were also a bit tense as they turned the ball 17 times.

But their solid defense made the difference as they held the usually explosive Sisi Rondina to just 11 points – a far cry from her 23-point average.

“Yung maturity and chemistry nila, andun na. Naa-apply na nila unlike dun sa early games namin,” said FEU coach George Pascua.

The Tigresses absorbed their third straight defeat for a woeful 2-5 mark.

In men’s matches, defending champion Ateneo and FEU toppled their respective rivals to remained tied for lead with similar 6-1 marks.

The Eagles swept the La Salle Archers, 25-16, 28-26, 25-22, while the Tamaraws survived the UST Tigers, 27-25, 22-25, 25-23, 36-24.

Marck Espejo sparkled anew for Ateneo with 21 points built on 18 kills and three aces to outshine La Salle’s Raymark Woo and Arjay Onia.