Jean Asis and the rest of the FEU Lady Tamaraws during a game against the NU Lady Bullgos in UAAP Season 87.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Falling short against defending champion National University anew in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball was heartbreaking for Jean Asis and the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws.
FEU bucked a lethargic first-set loss and moved on the verge of upsetting powerhouse NU with a commanding two sets to one advantage.
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But the championship poise of the latter proved to be unstoppable with the trio of Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen, and Vange Alinsug leading the comeback to eke out a 25-15, 23-25, 24-26, 25-23, 15-8 result and stay unbeaten in three games on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
READ: UAAP: NU withstands tough FEU challenge in women’s volleyball
“It hurts. We were two sets ahead, and then they extended it to fifth set. We’re close but we lost,” said Jean Asis, who played her heart out with a team-high 20 points off 16 kills, three blocks, and an ace, in Filipino.
The graduating middle blocker, though, is sticking to the positives, taking all the learnings from their gallant stand against the defending champion.
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“We’re still happy because we gave our best. We don’t have any regrets since everyone contributed from coaches and players even from our bench,” she said.
FEU (1-2) absorbed its second straight loss including a shocking four-set defeat to the University of the Philippines last Wednesday.
Asis urged her team for consistency and focus on themselves first and avoid thinking of the level of other teams.
READ: UAAP: UP fends off FEU, goes 2-0 in women’s volleyball
“We’ll look at every game as the same level. We can’t base our performance on any team. Because sometimes we get overconfident against other teams. We need to treat everyone equally that every team is a threat and be consistent with our performance,” she said.
FEU libero Marga Encarnacion, who had 20 digs, said they brought all the learnings from their Final Four exit last year when they forced the eventual champion NU to a do-or-die game but still fell short.
“NU gave us a lesson last year to improve and mature. This time Coach Tina widened those lessons on how we should perform,” Encarnacion said.
With two consecutive defeats, the Lady Tamaraws hope to end the slump against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.