etermined to move past the heartbreak of last season’s runner-up finish, Far Eastern University (FEU) began its 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge campaign with a dominant straight-sets win over Mapua University, 25-15, 25-22, 25-21, Sunday at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center in Manila.
The Lady Tamaraws displayed composure and firepower — especially in the third set — where Congolese opposite Faida Bakanke took over. With the score tied at 15, she delivered three crucial aces in a momentum-shifting run that put FEU ahead, 18-15. From there, the Lady Tams never looked back.
Bakanke finished with an all-around outing of 12 points off six attacks, three blocks and three aces, while also contributing four digs. Mitzi Panangin chipped in 10 points, highlighted by five spikes, three blocks and two aces.
Mapua, led by captain Alyanna Ong, kept the pressure on in the final frame, forcing a 19-all count after an FEU error. But senior setter and team captain Tin Ubaldo orchestrated a decisive 6-2 closing run, capped by a down-the-line hit from Gerzel Petallo to seal the win.
“Our point this time is not just to bounce back but to improve from last time,” Ubaldo said.
“It’s really up to us if we can perform well. We’re not focused on winning but on the process of how to become successful. For me, our participation here is not just about redemption.”
The Lady Tams dominated the opening set, with a late 8-3 run sparked by bench contributions from Madane David and Frenchie Premaylon sealing the deal in the early going of the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
In Set 2, Mapua showed grit, battling back from an 8-16 hole and trimming the deficit to one, 21-22, after an ace from Juliana Estudillo. However, a service error on the next play halted their run, allowing FEU to regain control and take a 2-0 set lead.
No Mapuan reached double figures, with Zyra Morales and Alyanna Ong managing only eight points apiece.