MANILA — Far Eastern University (FEU) finally broke through on the national stage, sweeping four-time NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde (CSB), 25-21, 25-16, 25-19, to clinch its maiden Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Batangas Leg crown on Sunday at the University of Batangas Millennium Gym.
The Lady Tamaraws, determined to erase the sting of last year’s runner-up finish, completed a flawless campaign by winning all three matches without conceding a single set—an emphatic statement of their rise as contenders in collegiate volleyball.
“Overall, maganda ang ipinakita ng team. Medyo shaky lang ‘yung pasa namin nung first set, nag-struggle kami sa pass,” said FEU head coach Cristina Salak. “Marami kaming natutunan from this tournament because kailangan naming i-polish yung mga small balls namin, block and defense namin especially yung pass.”
Best Player of the Batangas Leg Faida Bakanke, along with Gerzel Petallo, Jazlyn Ellarina, and Alyzza Devosora, spearheaded the Lady Tamaraws’ balanced attack that neutralized the usually potent Lady Blazers offense.
Petallo finished with 13 points, Ellarina added 12—including the title-clinching hit—while Bakanke and Devosora chipped in 10 points each. Veteran setter Tin Ubaldo orchestrated the offense with 14 excellent sets and five points of her own.
In contrast, no CSB player managed to hit double digits. Zam Nolasco topscored with eight, followed by Rhea Densing with seven and Chenae Basarte with six, as the Lady Blazers struggled to find answers against FEU’s defense.
The championship placed the Lady Tamaraws alongside National University and Adamson University as leg winners of the nationwide SSL tour, which also featured stops in Mindanao, Visayas, and Luzon.
Both FEU and CSB are set to return to action in the centerpiece SSL Collegiate Pre-season Championship starting September 20./PN
