Lady Tams continue to fight for Final Four bid; Panique-led Bulldogs seal 2nd seed, conclude elimination round

Just when things started to go downhill, lady luck smiled on the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws’ side as they kept their playoff bids alive, while the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs continued their surge to the second-seed in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tilt at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, April 22.

Clinging to a faint playoff hope, the Tamaraws willed their way back to deliver a reverse sweep against Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles, 22–25, 23–25, 25–12, 25–21, 25–10, to bolster their Final Four bid.

Team captain Gerzel Petallo led the Morayta-based side with 17 points, 16 digs, and 11 receptions, while Lovely Lopez Kyle Pendon added 13.

Slowly finding their groove in the rubber, Melody Pons and Clarisse Loresco combined efforts to grind out a slim one-point lead before the Katipunan volleybelles’ three crucial errors handed the win.

Dona De Leon, meanwhile, finished with 15 points off of 11 attacks and four blocks, while Jlo Delos Santos contributed 12. 

The knockout game chances were slim for FEU but thanks to the Bulldogs’ win, they are now set to face theTigresses with an identical 8-6 record in a do-or-die clash for the last Final Four spot.

Lady Bulldogs cap elimination round with No. 2 seed

NU danced away from the daze as they erased a two-set deficit heaved by Arah Panique’s heroics against University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses to stage a 19–25, 23–25, 25–18, 25–18, 15–13 upset.

The three-time defending champions boosted their chances for another title hunt, finishing with a 10–4 record enough to avert any hurdles as they are slated in second place trailing behind DLSU.

After committing a net error that contributed to the Bulldogs losing an outright berth, the iron-willed Panique bounced back to spearhead the pack with 24 points built on 21 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. 

Rookie Sam Cantada backstopped with 20 points.

Deadlocked at 13-all, Panique pulled off a dropball to push the Jhocson-based squad to match point before team captain Vange Alinsug rose up with an attack to penetrate the final blow.

All-rounder Angge Poyos fired the Tigresses’ light with her 24 points, 15 receptions, and nine digs.

The Bulldogs earned a much-needed break as they await the FEU-UST winner and ADU Lady Falcons matchup to determine their opponent before they return to the action.