Far Eastern University cruised past College of Saint Benilde, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18, to clinch its third straight Finals appearance in the 2025 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge on Thursday evening at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
After yielding a set to the Lady Blazers in Game 1, the second-seeded Lady Tamaraws — playing without opposite hitter Faida Bakanke due to a minor left knee injury — imposed their dominance from the opening serve.
Powered by Gerzel Petallo and Jaz Ellarina, FEU swept Benilde to book a Finals showdown with the unbeaten Adamson University Lady Falcons in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
Petallo tallied 11 points on nine attacks and two blocks, adding nine excellent receptions, while Ellarina also registered 11 points built on nine attacks and two aces.
Their efforts sent FEU back to the championship round after settling for back-to-back runner-up finishes in the past two editions of the preseason tilt.
“I give all my credit to these girls kasi trinabaho talaga. Sabi mo nga, si Faida got injured last night kaya lahat kailangan mag-step up sa absence niya, and lahat naman gusto makuha yung championship na ito. Up against Adamson, panibagong aral ito sa amin para makuha yung title,” Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak said.
With the second set tied at 16-all, FEU uncorked a decisive 9-4 rally — highlighted by a Lovely Lopez down-the-line hit and a Petallo offspeed attack — to take a two-set lead that left Benilde scrambling.
From there, the Lady Tamaraws slammed the door on any potential comeback.
An offspeed shot from Petallo and back-to-back errors by Camila Bartolome and Arianna Pua widened the gap to 18-9 in the third set.
Though the Lady Blazers found some rhythm late, Ellarina’s ace and Petallo’s cut shot sealed the sweep in just 66 minutes.
“Hanggang may chance, hindi kami titigil. Binigay sa amin itong opportunity na ito, kaya hindi pa rin kami titigil. Kung ibigay sa amin ito, deserve namin, basta ang sa akin, credits doon sa bata. Sila nag-hirap para dito,” Salak added.
Lopez chipped in an all-around performance of eight points, 10 excellent receptions, and seven excellent digs, while Alas Pilipinas Women’s member Clarisse Loresco contributed eight markers off three attacks, three aces, and two blocks.
Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals between FEU and Adamson is set on Monday, October 6, at the same venue.
Meanwhile, the Lady Blazers, relegated to the bronze-medal match for the second straight year, will face fellow NCAA squad Arellano University Lady Chiefs on the same day.
Bartolome led Benilde in the losing effort with a game-high 18 points, built on 15 attacks, two blocks, and one ace.
