Tams edge Stags in 5-set thriller, near quarters

The Lady Tams inch closer to the quarterfinals.

The look on these Stags said it all.

Shaira Gonzales and Monique Tiangco typified FEU's defense: stone-wall.

Rachel Ann Daquis celebrates after securing their fourth win in five starts.

Text by Albert Allen Aquino, Ernesto Rondon HS

Photos by Josiah Israel Albelda

The Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws showed endgame composure to eke out a heart-stopping 16-25, 30-28, 17-25, 25-21, 15-10, come-from-behind victory over erstwhile unbeaten San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) Lady Stags for their fourth win in the Shakey’s V-League 2^nd Conference yesterday.

Guest star Rachel Ann Daquis scored on a ferocious kill to atone for earlier final set miscues and put an end to the more than two-hour match before a wild and roaring crowd at the Filoil – Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Open spikers Cherry May Vivas and Shaira Gonzales put on a dominating display of speed, strength and stamina, nailing 23 and 14 points, respectively to help the Morayta-based volleybelles inch closer to the quarterfinals. Crowd favorite Daquis had 10 markers.

Meanwhile, Princess Elaine Cruz and reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Analyn Joy Benito scored 20 and 19, in that order, for the Stags, who appeared to streak to their third straight win before choking in the end.

In a match that showed signs of things to come for two title contenders, both squads exhibited powerful attacks, rock-solid defenses and superb play.

After FEU raced to an 8-3 lead in the first set, coach Roger Gorayeb made the proper adjustments as SSC-R, who clinched the NCAA championship two weeks ago, dropped a 9-1 bomb and never looked back to take the set, 25-16.

The second canto was nothing short of spectacular as both teams fought down the wire, eliciting oohs and ahhs from the predominantly FEU crowd, as neither squad gained headway before the five-foot-11 Daquis struck hard to hand the Lady Tamaraws the set, 30-28.

UAAP runners-up FEU again took an early lead in the third set but the Lady Stags, behind Benito’s blinding spikes and wallops by Marrie Quigley, dominated to take a commanding 2-1 lead, 25-17.

With Benito and Cruz flexing their muscles and the San Sebastian defense seemingly insurmountable, everything looked to point to a win for the Lady Stags.

Ironically, that was their last hurrah.

The Lady Tamaraws capitalized on Vivas’ power plays while making sure the Recto-based netters’ attacks won’t enter their court as they won the set, 25-21.

The look on Gorayeb and the rest of the coaching staff’s faces said it all: the Lady Stags have been caught in a trap it could not get out of.

With guns blazing and adrenaline pumping, FEU blitzed through a listless SSC-R squad, 7-0, before fending off a late rally to take the match at 15-10.