Despite missing out on a twice-to-beat advantage, the FEU Lady Tamaraws get their first win over La Salle in the UAAP since the pandemic.
The FEU Lady Tamaraws set up a clash against the NU Lady Bulldogs in the Final Four even after they beat La Salle in four sets, 25-20, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23, in the second round of UAAP Season 87 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
Despite a triple-tie for second place still possible if UST loses against NU on Sunday, superior set ratio would pit the Lady Spikers and the Golden Tigresses in a virtual best-of-three series against each other in the semis.
That leaves FEU to once again contend with the champion Lady Bulldogs in the other Final Four series.
Still, the Lady Tamaraws enter with momentum after they nabbed their first win over the Lady Spikers since the pandemic, thanks to four players in double-digit scoring.
Gerz Petallo led the cavalry with her 19 points. She also had eight excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
But it was Lovely Lopez who came up as the late-game hero with her eight points in the last two sets.
In set 4, Lopez provided the finishing move on La Salle and punctuated a 4-1 run for the Lady Tamaraws to end the match.
FEU clawed to victory even after a Jaz Ellarina error gave La Salle the 22-21 lead late in a drawn-out fourth set that also featured delays due to officiating.
Ellarina finished with 13 markers in the victory, while Fiada Bakanke and Chenie Tagaod also had 10 points each.
La Salle, meanwhile, leaned on Angel Canino’s 25 points in the losing effort.
Both teams finish the elimination round with a 9-5 slate. As it stands, La Salle is ranked 3rd thanks to superior set ratio over FEU.