Games Sunday
(Playtime FilOil Centre)
12 p.m. — Letran vs UST
2 p.m. — EAC vs NU
4 p.m. — UP vs Mapua
Faida Bakanke powered Far Eastern University in an emphatic sweep of Arellano University, 25-22, 25-17, 25-16, for a second straight win and a step closer to the next round of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.
Down by six points to open the third frame, Bakanke anchored the Lady Tamaraws’ blistering scoring barrage that turned the tables around on their way to preserving their unbeaten card for the solo top spot in Pool B.
The Congolese student-athlete scored eight of her game-high 15 points in the third set for FEU, which has yet to drop a set in the centerpiece tournament of the league backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University overpowered University of Perpetual Help in straight sets, 25-16, 26-24, 25-17, for a promising start.
Faye Nisperos led the way for the Blue Eagles with a 13-point explosion highlighted by 12 kills.
Aside from a scary brush with a second set meltdown, Ateneo was in full control for most of the match to move up to solo lead in Pool D of the centerpiece tournament of the league backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
“Naniwala lang kami sa selves namin and sa teammates namin. Tiwala lang ang ginawa na namin,” said Nisperos.
“Lalaban kami ngayon kasi sa mga leagues namin before this nagkakapaan pa kami and all. Pero siyempre kailangang mag-step up each one of us. Kapag naniwala kami sa sarili namin, malalaro namin yung laro namin,” she added.
Ateneo, which finished third in the SSL National Invitationals Cebu Leg, encountered some difficulty in the closing stretch of the second frame after the Lady Altas forced an extension, 24-24.
Bakanke, the SSL National Invitationals Batangas Leg Best Player, pounded 13 attacks and two kill blocks in just two sets of action.
The Lady Tamaraws recovered their bearings just in time after sloppy starts in all sets, including an early struggle in the third frame where they went down to a six-point hole.
“We had a slow start and Ate Tin (Ubaldo) told us we should move and give our best. She told us to follow the instructions our coaches gave us on how to spike and do everything,” Bakanke said.
“We should do what our coaches told us to do. We know that we should do our best from our serve to our block also,” she added.
Gerzel Petallo scored seven and Mitzi Panangin had five markers for FEU. Chipping in four points each for the Lady Tamaraws were Cla Loresco, Ia David and Alyzza Devosora, who smashed the closing back-to-back kills.
FEU went behind, 3-9, in the third set after Lady Chiefs middle blocker Leoranne Santiago scored off a strong push.
The Lady Tamaraws answered with a red-hot 22-7 finishing kick to seal the 75-minute encounter in the competition, supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel- Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.
The Lady Tamaraws eye to complete a sweep of the group stage and secure a spot in the next round in a marquee clash with National Invitationals Cebu Leg champion Adamson University on October 3 at the Paco Arena.
Arellano absorbed its first loss in two games.
Karylle Melendrez was the lone Lady Chiefs player in double figures with 12 points, 11 coming from kills. Yen Sabanal and Gae Segovia added five markers each for Arellano, which came off a five-set win over listless Jose Rizal University last week.
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
