Volleyball: FEU escapes EAC to sweep Pool C in Unity Cup

The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in action against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the SSL Unity Cup, October 17, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Handout/Shakey’sMANILA — Far Eastern University overturned a one-set deficit to take down Emilio Aguinaldo College, 20-25, 25-13, 24-26, 25-12, 15-6, and complete a sweep of pool play in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.  

The Lady Tamaraws had to recalibrate and get a wake-up call from the coaching staff in the fourth set before dominating the decider to finish with a perfect 3-0 win-loss record atop Pool C.

FEU joins five-peat-seeking National University, Adamson University and the second-seeded squad from Pool B in the round-robin playoffs of the league’s centerpiece competition.

Gerz Petallo scored all 25 of her points on kills in an efficient 25-of-50 spiking clip to lead the Lady Tamaraws, who survived the match despite committing 26 errors.

“It’s a big eye-opener for us, since we’re too confident that we’re strong,” Petallo admitted. “May challenges na naibigay sa amin. Marami pa talaga kami na kailangan i-improve and kailangan pang pagtrabahuhan. We’re not gonna settle for less.”

Ia David added 10 points while veterans Cla Loresco and Alyzza Devosora chipped in nine markers each for FEU.

Smelling blood after a dominating fourth set, the Lady Tamaraws raced to an 11-3 advantage in the fifth frame to take the fight out of the Lady Generals.

FEU reached match point, 14-5, after EAC committed the last of its atrocious 29 errors.

The Lady Generals saved a point before Audrey Santos sealed the two-hour, 10-minute victory with an off the block kill.

FEU sent EAC reeling to a third straight defeat for a winless campaign. Xyra Dayanan finished with 19 points on 18 kills and one ace to pace the Lady Generals.

Angelica Pasaol posted 12 points while Marinel Ramos and Ashley Toriado scored six apiece for EAC, which allowed the Lady Tamaraws to land 13 aces.

After splitting the first two sets, FEU and EAC engaged in a nip-and-tuck third frame. The Lady Tamaraws took a 23-22 advantage that Dayananan erased with back-to-back hits to bring the Lady Generals on top.

Devosora tied the set at 24 but a Dayanan kill followed by FEU’s return miscue gave the frame to EAC, which took a 2-1 match lead.   

ATENEO THROUGH TO SECOND ROUNDAteneo’s Sophia Buena in action against San Sebastian in the SSL Unity Cup, October 17, 2026 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Handout/Shakey’sIn the second game, Ateneo De Manila University punched a second round ticket after a 25-16, 25-15, 20-25, 25-12, victory over San Sebastian College-Recoletos to close its Pool C campaign.

The Blue Eagles finished the pool play with a 2-1 win-loss record behind unbeaten Far Eastern University (3-0).

Sophia Buena led Ateneo with 17 points on 15 kills, one kill block and an ace.

“I guess I’m just really grateful to my teammates. They made it really, really easy to play well today. I think everyone did their part. We all worked really hard for this. Hopefully, more wins to come,” Buena said.

The Blue Eagles joined last year’s runner-up University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines and the second-seeded team in Pool A in the carryover round-robin second round to determine their quarterfinals seeding.

SSC-R exited the competition with two defeats in three starts.

The final pool stage playdate features a four-game schedule on Sunday.