UAAP: FEU bucks first set collapse, downs NU in four sets

MANILA, Philippines -- Far Eastern University (FEU) recovered from a first-set collapse to defeat National University in four sets, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-12, on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The result gave the Lady Tamaraws, last season's runners-up, a winning start to the UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball tournament.

National U, a rebuilding team that lost several key players from last year's Final 4 squad, gave a good account of itself especially with a stirring first-set comeback, but could not sustain its form.

To make matters worse, NU lost rookie setter Joyme Cagande to a knee injury late in the third set, when she collided with veteran teammate Roselyn Doria while chasing for the ball. She was diagnosed with a ligament strain in her left knee, and had to be replaced by Kly Orillaneda.

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"Ayun sabi ko nga kanina bago kami mag-start, sa huddle namin. Umpisahan natin ng maganda, tapusin natin ng maganda. Kasi importante 'yung maganda sa start," said FEU coach George Pascua.

Rookie Lycha Ebon, now wearing the No. 2 of FEU's former captain Bernadeth Pons, had 13 points to lead the Lady Tamaraws. Three other players scored in double-digits, with Heather Guino-o and Celine Domingo adding 11, and new captain Jerrili Malabanan scoring 10 markers. Kyle Negrito had 22 excellent sets.

The Lady Tamaraws were comfortably ahead, 21-14, in the opening set and appeared headed for a comfortable win.

But the rookie-laden NU team rallied back, behind the powerful kills of Princess Robles and the steady playmaking of Cagande. They ended the opening set on a 11-1 run, with Robles coming up with the crucial hits in the end game.

The Lady Tamaraws showed their poise in the next two frames, however, each time holding off the Lady Bulldogs' rallies to secure the win.

Disaster struck NU in the third set, as Cagande went down with an injury to her left knee. The Lady Bulldogs were already down, 23-19, when she chased for the ball and crashed with Doria. The rookie setter needed help in returning to the bench and had to be carried by Risa Sato back to their dugout.

In her place, Orillaneda tried valiantly to orchestrate NU's offense, and she managed to do a fine job in the early goings of the fourth frame. Ultimately, however, the Lady Tamaraws pulled away, with Negrito pouncing on the Lady Bulldogs' shaky reception, and FEU middle blockers Cel Domingo and Czarina Carandang taking turns in scoring quick hits.

"Obviously, I'm happy that our team won the game, but I think there's a lot of things that we still need to work on. So from this first game, we saw things like receive and other skills that we need to work on," said Malabanan.

Ivy Lacsina had 14 points, Robles finished with 13, and veteran Audrey Paran scored 11 to lead the Lady Bulldogs, which entered the season with just 11 players in their roster.

Before her injury, Cagande was credited with 15 excellent sets. She was rushed to a local hospital immediately after the game.

FEU will try to make it two wins in a row on Wednesday, when they take on University of the Philippines in a rematch of the PVL Collegiate Conference Finals. NU, meanwhile, plays University of the East next Saturday.

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