UAAP: La Salle clinches twice-to-beat bonus after FEU escape; UP keeps Final Four hopes alive

De La Salle University secured a twice-to-beat bonus in the postseason after outlasting Far Eastern University, 25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 19-25, 15-10, on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Tamaraws cut the deficit to 11-9 in the fifth set before Amie Provido, Shevana Laput, Angel Canino, and Shane Reterta combined for a decisive 4-1 run to preserve La Salle’s perfect record through 11 games.

“Itong match na ‘to, sobrang grateful kami kasi napanalo namin, pero I think, kailangan din talaga tingnan namin kung ano ang nangyari sa game na ‘to. Hindi lang ‘yung result kasi madami kaming mga lapses talaga as a team na pwede namang maiwasan, so, more on balik kami doon sa basic,” said Canino, who finished with 24 points, 14 digs, and 10 receptions.

Shevana Laput led all scorers with 25 points and added seven digs, while Provido contributed 17 points in the La Salle victory.

Lovely Lopez paced FEU with 16 points and 24 receptions, while Gerz Petallo chipped in 14 points as the Lady Tamaraws fell to 6-5.

Earlier, the University of the Philippines defeated Ateneo de Manila University, 25-20, 25-14, 25-23, to keep its Final Four hopes alive.

UP improved to 5-6, just one game behind fifth-seeded Adamson, which holds a 6-5 record.

Nina Ytang led UP with 18 points, while Jel Gajero and Irah Jaboneta added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Donna de Leon and Zey Pacia, meanwhile, scored seven points each to lead the Blue Eagles, who dropped to 1-10.

—JKC, GMA News