FEU joins UST on top of men's volleyball
By Anthony Divinagracia
21 December 2009 04:19 PM
Manila, Philippines - Perennial contender Far Eastern University (FEU) rebounded from a first-set loss to turn back a gritty Ateneo de Manila University squad, 23-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-21, and move on top of the standings with defending champion UST in the 72nd UAAP men’s volleyball tournament last Sunday at the Arena in San Juan.
Nestor Molate fired 25 points, including 21 attacks, two blocks and two aces, to help FEU match UST’s league-leading 4-1 record going into the Christmas break. He got ample support from Joshua Alcarde and skipper Rodolfo Labrador who tallied 16 and 10 markers, respectively.
Ateneo meanwhile fell deeper into hole, absorbing its third straight loss to share identical 1-4 cards with National University (NU), which earlier took an 11-25, 19-25, 16-25 bashing from University of the Philippines (UP) in the first game.
Andre Pareja scored 15 points built on 13 attacks and two blocks to pace the Eagles while teammates Narciso Intal, Jr. and Duabe Teves added 11 and nine markers, respectively.
The Maroons, who now crowd University of the East (UE) at second place with a 3-2 mark, drew steady firepower from Dominic Lucindo (15 points, 13 attacks) and Mark Sagad (13 points, 10 attacks) to dispose of NU in 54 minutes.
Jan Adorador was the only bright spot for NU, chalking up 12 points all from the attack line.
Back on track
Defending champion UST recaptured its winning form last Dec. 19 with a 27-25, 25-18, 25-15 thrashing of UE to stay on top of the men’s volleyball standings.
The lopsided affair boosted UST’s record to 4-1 but importantly erased the stigma of its 23-25, 25-21, 25-27, 20-25 loss against archrival FEU last Dec. 16 which snapped its 21-game winning streak hinged on an unprecedented Season 71 sweep.
Hendry Pecaña and Salvador Depante led UST’s charge with 14 and 13 points, respectively built on 10 attacks each.
UE , which pulled off a 21-25, 29-27, 25-21, 22-25, 15-13 squeaker over Season 71 runner-up UP last Dec. 15, drew 22 markers from Benchard Pedrano and Dominic Estrada but failed to get main man Homer Lauresta into the Warriors’ offensive brew.
Lauresta, who torched UP with 23, could only muster a single hit this time as UST ruled the attack (44-30), block (11-3) and service (5-3) departments to cap the one-hour encounter with aplomb.
The Warriors now tote a 3-2 card for solo third, just half a game behind FEU which eyes a share of first place with a victory over Ateneo de Manila University at 11am today.
Ateneo is coming off a 27-25, 21-18, 24-26, 21-25, 13-15 heart-breaker against Adamson University last Dec. 15. The Eagles occupy the cellar with NU at 1-3.
NU seeks to avenge its 25-21, 17-25, 22-25, 25-13, 12-15 ouster at the hands of De La Salle University last Dec. 16 when it meets UP in the 9am curtain-raiser. The Archers and the Falcons are currently tied at fourth with similar 2-3 ledgers.
Men’s volleyball action resumes on January 9 with Ateneo and NU hoping to re-enter the win column against formidable opponents UE and defending champion UST, respectively at the Arena from 9am to 1pm.
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