Unbelievable! For a team that wasn’t expected to reach the semifinals, the FEU Lady Tams slamdunked the favored NU Lady Bulldogs 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 to snatch the Shakey’s V-League 1st Conference Crown.
FEU Coach Shaq De Los Santos attributed the team’s giant-killing performance to the arrival of their two grizzled imports, the Army’s Rachel Anne Daquis and Juvy Gonzaga. Shaq was profuse with praise for his dynamic duo, whose complete game bolstered the offense and plugged the holes in their defense to keep the NU Bulldogs at bay.
For her part, the graceful and grateful Rachel – who was adjudged as the Finals MVP – magnanimously acknowledged the improved games of the Lady Tams as the catalyst in the finals series. She lauded her teammates for maintaining their composure despite the lack of championship experience. Indeed, FEU’s iron will was once again on display, as they came back to out-steady the usually unruffled Bulldogs in the first 2 sets.
By the third set however, FEU’s Lady Tams were no longer acting like the greenhorns they were supposed to be. They were calm and confident, not to mention lucky too, as they forced the veteran Bulldogs to lapse into a series of crucial errors. Suddenly, it was NU’s pudgy Bulldogs who were jittery and having a bad case of nerves.
The win propelled the FEU Women’s volleyball program to respectability. The valuable experience in championship calibre jousts will surely put them in good stead for the battles ahead. As for NU’s vaunted Lady Bulldogs, the twin debacles in the UAAP and Shakey’s V-League volleyfests this season should mean it’s back to the drawing boards once again. Still, the Lady Bulldogs deserve credit for giving their best to defend their title.
To the ladies of FEU and NU; to the 3rd-running Adamson and co-deserving semi-finalist, UST; to the crowd-drawing Ateneo Lady Eagles and the exciting Davao Lady Agilas, to all the other teams that fought it out, thanks for the wonderful memories! We look forward to the next season.
(Pics courtesy of Shakey’s V-League and Arnold Cruz)
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