Lady Tamaraws gore Lady Falcons

Games today:

(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)

11 a.m. — Saint Benilde vs UE

2 p.m. — UST vs Arellano

5 p.m. — Ateneo vs NU

Far Eastern University took down Adamson, 25-20, 25-22, 25-20, in a battle of undefeated squads for a fiery start in the Shakey's Super League Collegiate Pre-Season Championship playoffs Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.

Faida Bakanke and Gerzel Petallo joined hands as the Lady Tamaraws thwarted the Lady Falcons in each of the airtight sets to earn a gritty sweep in 85 minutes and post a 1-0 record in Pool F.

Bakanke dropped 11 points on nine hits, a block and an ace as Petallo hammered all her 10 points on attacks in FEU's fourth win in as many games in the SSL Season 2.

Eight more players lit up the scoring board led by Mitzi Panangin with eight points for the wards of deputy mentor Manolo Refugia.

The Lady Tamaraws, who swept Pool D with wins over Ateneo, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Mapua, anticipated a back-and-forth showdown with the Lady Falcons but surprisingly emerged triumphant in straight sets — thanks to the duo of Bakanke and Petallo.

Bakanke anchored FEU's 5-0 closeout with a thunderous crosscourt kill in the first set from a deadlock at 20 before delivering a crisp kill anew in the second as the Lady Tamaraws nearly wasted a comfortable 23-19 lead.

Petallo took her turn in the clincher, spearheading the Lady Tamaraws' runaway from a 15-all score highlighted by a long attack that fell just right at the backline of the Lady Falcons' defense for the win.

FEU clashes next against back-to-back National Collegiate Athletic Association champion College of Saint Benilde next Saturday in an attempt to zero in on the No. 1 seed in the quarterfinals from the playoffs where the top eight squads carried over their preliminary round standings.