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UAAP 81 volleyball: Lady Tams back on winning track, survive Lady Falcons in 5-setter

Rookie sensation Lycha Ebon topscored with 19 points before leaving with a knee injury in FEU's five-set win over Adamson Sunday. Franchesca Nicole Collantes/Dugout Philippines 
By Ricky Manliguis

ANTIPOLO-- Far Eastern U figured in a tightly-contested battle with Adamson before hacking out a pulsating 30-32, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 15-13 victory in the first game of Sunday's UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball at the Ynares Center. 


With the win, the Lady Tamaraws bounced back from a crushing straight-sets loss at the hands of defending three-peat champs La Salle in its final first round assignment to improve to a 5-3 card. 

After Adamson battled form a 5-10 fifth-set deficit to tie the game at 13-all, skipper Jerrili Malabanan and Celine Domingo doused the uprising with back-to-back hits to settle the outcome. 

The victory proved costly for the Morayta-based squad though, as Lycha Ebon and Jeanette Villareal suffered injuries during the match. Villareal sprained her ankle in the first set, while Ebon had a right knee injury on an awkward  landing in the fifth set with FEU leading 3-1. 

"Sabi ko sa mga players ko, 'Kailangan kung wala ang isa kailanan nandoon pa rin sila.' Kumbaga maglalaro sila dahil gusto nila na tulungan ang kasama nila. Hindi yung wala na tapos mawawala pa,"echoed FEU coach George Pascua after the match.  

"Mas masakit ang mararamdaman yung may injured na gustong maglaro pa. Buti na lang kahit papaano na-handle namin ang ganoong situation."

Rookie Ebon still paced the Lady Tamaraws with 19 points anchored on 16 attacks, while Heather Guino-O followed suit with 14 markers. Kyle Negrito fired 23 excellent sets. 

Eli Soyud led three other Lady Falcons in double figures with 17 markers but the San Marcelino spikers remained at the cellar with a 1-7 record. 

Chaira Permentilla and Joy Dacoron fired 15 each, even as Bern Flora chipped in 11. 

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