Lady Eagles outlast FEU Lady Tams

MANILA -- (UPDATED) Ateneo de Manila University returned to the win column after surviving a five-set thriller over Far Eastern University (FEU).

Ateneo showed its heartstrong mantra to comeback from a 1-2 match deficit and pull off a 25-19, 24-26, 19-25, 25-16, 15-11, victory Sunday over FEU to get back on the winning track of the 79th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Playing without their head coach Tai Bundit, who went back to Thailand to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law, the Lady Eagles withstood the challenge given by the Lady Tams to improve their record to 2-1 and erase the bitter four-set loss they absorbed Wednesday against league-leading National University (NU).

Veterans Jho Maraguinot, Bea De Leon and Michelle Morente showed their heart in the fifth set in carrying Ateneo to victory.

"Sinabi ko lang sa kanila sa fifth set ang laging sinasabi ni coach Tai na ang fifth set na labanan na 'yan ng basic," said assistant coach Sherwin Meneses. "Mabuti na lang nakuha na nila 'yung mga service receives kasi nagsisimula na 'yun sa basic then sila na 'yun."

Maraguinot led three other Lady Eagles in double figures with 18 points coming off 16 attacks. Morente had an all around game with 12 kills, three aces and a pair of kill blocks for 17 points on top of her 14 digs and 12 excellent receptions for the Katipunan-based squad.

De Leon finished with 11 while Maddie Madayag added 10 for the Lady Eagles, who pounded FEU with 52 attack points coming from 53 excellent sets by fourth-year setter Jia Morado.

The Lady Eagles built a 9-4 lead before FEU sparked a rally to cut its deficit down to 10-9 in the deciding frame. Back-to-back hits by Ateneo gave the Lady Eagles a 12-9 cushion. The Lady Tams again closed the gap, 13-11, only to see Ateneo steal the match after FEU committed an error sealed by Kim Gequillana's service ace.

Bernadeth Pons scored 18 points, while Toni Basas and Jerrili Malabanan had 15 and 13 points, respectively, for the Lady Tams.

FEU fell to 1-2 slate.

This story was originally published on the ABS-CBN Sports website.