Volleyball: FEU overwhelms CSB; Letran stuns Ateneo in reverse sweep

MANILA — Far Eastern University took a step towards clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup on Wednesday, thanks to a comprehensive win over College of Saint Benilde.

The Lady Tamaraws overwhelmed the Lady Blazers, 25-14, 25-9, 25-17, for a second straight win in the Round of 8 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. They needed just over an hour to complete the win and take a 2-0 record in Pool E.

It was also the fifth win in a row for FEU, which got 10 points from Ia David while Gerz Petallo added seven markers in just two sets. Cla Loresco, Alyzza Devosora and Jaz Ellarina pumped in five points each while Karyll Miranda dished out 10 excellent sets to help FEU convert 41 attack points.

Save for a brief spark of resistance from CSB early in the third set, the Lady Tamaraws breezed through the match with sustained energy.

“Nag-stick kami sa mindset namin na maging consistent. ‘Yung mindset na magtiwala sa mga kasama kasi kahit sino talaga kayang mag-contribute,” David said.

After dominating the first two frames, the Lady Tamaraws trailed the Lady Blazers, 3-6, to start the third set. FEU rallied to regain control and used a 12-5 closing barrage to put the game away.   

CSB, which threw away 25 points on errors, absorbed a second straight defeat. 

Arriana Pua and Mary Grace Borromeo scored seven each while Mhonniecka Soliven finished with six markers for the Lady Blazers, who will face Adamson to close the round. 

In the second game, Letran pulled off a reverse sweep over Ateneo De Manila University, 30-32, 22-25, 25-17, 26-24, 15-13, to stay in the thick of the battle for a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage in Pool F.

Gia Maquilang finished with 17 points on 14 spikes, two kill blocks and an ace to lead the Lady Knights’ rebound from a painful four-set loss to University of the Philippines last Sunday to start the second round.

“Na-test ‘yung character namin after nu’ng game namin against UP. So ngayon, bumalik kami sa zero. Since down kami, inisa-isa namin. Pinag-usapan talaga namin kung ano ang dapat gawin namin sa sarili, disiplina lang talaga,” the open hitter said.

Verenicce Colendra added 15 points while Sheena Sarie had 14 markers for the reigning NCAA champion.

Letran raced to a 6-3 lead in the fifth frame and held its ground late in the set to stave off the Blue Eagles’ fightback.

The Lady Knights reached match point, 14-11 after a Maquilang kill. She, however, gave Ateneo an opening after sending her serve long before Ana Hermosura scored a kill as the Blue Eagles breathed down Letran’s neck.

A ceasefire called by the Lady Knights iced Ateneo’s Alex Montoro from the service line as she served out.

Jihan Chuatico fired 16 points on 12 kills, three kill blocks and an ace but her efforts weren’t enough to save the Blue Eagles from falling to a 0-2 mark.

Bea Buena got 13, Montoro unloaded 12 while Brianna Ang and Hermosura chipped in 10 markers each for Ateneo.