FEU cops last quarters twice-to-beat advantage

Games Tuesday:
(San Andres Gym)
10 a.m. — NU vs San Beda
12 p.m. — UST vs Ateneo
2 p.m. — Adamson vs CSB
4 p.m. — FEU vs UP

Far Eastern University turned back College of Saint Benilde, 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, to secure the last quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup on Friday at the San Andres Gym in Manila.        

Alyzza Devosora stepped up big time late in the fourth set and carried the Lady Tamaraws in an all-important victory to close the second round with a 2-1 win-loss record at the No. 2 spot in Pool F.

The outside spiker scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth set, including four of FEU’s last six points of the match.  

“Tumatakbo sa isip namin na quarterfinals, kailangan maganda ‘yung standings namin. Goal talaga namin 3-0 kaso medyo nakulangan, naging shaky, nawalan ng pasa. So mas in-improve namin yun para makuha yung last set,” Devosora said.

The Lady Tamaraws will tackle Pool E third seed University of the Philippines on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the tournament, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.

FEU, winner of the SSL National Invitationals Batangas Leg, squandered a four-point lead midway into the fourth frame as the Lady Blazers uncorked a 7-1 run to take a 21-19 advantage.

Gerzel Petallo sparked the Lady Tamaraws’ closing 6-2 rally, sealed by Devosora’s back-to-back hits.

Petallo had 17 points while Cla Loresco got eight markers.

CSB, which closed the round with a 1-2 slate, will take on twice-to-beat Adamson University in the next round.

Zam Nolasco led the Lady Blazers with 14 points and Clydel Catarig got 12.

In the first game, the Fighting Maroons clipped Ateneo de Manila University, 25-19, 25-15, 25-14, for their first and only win after three starts in the second round of 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.   

Jelai Gajero led UP’s assault by banging in 11 of her 12 points off kills and added two digs and two excellent receptions. Irah Jaboneta and Sarah Ali added eight and seven markers, respectively, to help the Fighting Maroons arrest a two-game skid.   

“Pinag-usapan namin ‘yung mental toughness, which is naging problema namin in the previous games. ‘Yun ang wino-workout namin na lumaban with heart and mind,” Gajero said.

“Hinahabol namin ‘yung first win namin ngayon kasi mahalaga ‘yun para sa amin para ma-boost din ang confidence namin.”

The Blue Eagles went winless in the round as they fell on a collision course with the Pool F top seed and twice-to-beat University of Santo Tomas in the quarters.   

Faye Nisperos finished with 11 points as the lone bright spot for Ateneo, which dropped six straight games overall since the preliminary round.

Four-peat-seeking and twice-to-beat National University will face San Beda University in the other quarters pairing.