The FEU Lady Tamaraws pulled off an incredible upset against the NU Lady Bulldog to move to one win away from advancing to the Finals of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
Far Eastern University lived to fight another day after stunning National University, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23, in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, May 4.
The Lady Tamaraws' straight-set demolition of NU is the Lady Bulldog's first loss since the end of the first round where they lost to De La Salle University. NU had won seven straight, sweeping all of the second round to claim the no. 1 seed in the playoffs.
Tin Ubaldo orchestrated FEU's season-saving victory with 16 excellent sets, to go along with six points on four attacks, one block, and one service ace.
Early on, the Lady Tamaraws showed some sense of urgency as they distanced themselves from the error-prone Lady Bulldogs to snatch the first and second sets in convincing fashion.
Riding on that momentum, FEU built an early lead after a 7-0 run to start the third set.
But NU would not go away as the Lady Bulldogs managed to trim the deficit to just a single point at 17-18, behind the efforts of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
After a back-and-forth affair between the two squads, Solomon committed an untimely service error to bring the Lady Tamaraws within match point.
Chai Papa, however, also committed a service error, opening the door for the Lady Bulldogs. But just in time, Faida Bakanke connected on an off-the-block hit to seal the victory.
Tagaod contributed 12 points, along with 10 excellent receptions in the win, while Jean Asis added 11 markers.
Belen, on the other hand, was the lone double-digit scorer for NU in the loss with 12 points. Solomon and Vange Alinsug finished with just eight points apiece.
FEU and NU will collide once more in the coming days to decide who will make it to the Finals.