MANILA -- Far Eastern University denied Letran's bid for a comeback to complete a straight sets victory in their first game of the 2025 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Batangas Leg, Friday at the University of Batangas Millennium Gym.
The Lady Tamaraws cruised in the first two sets but encountered greater resistance in Set 3 before claiming a 25-13, 25-17, 25-21 victory.
FEU head coach Tina Salak fielded her second unit in the third set before sending their primary setter and team captain, Tin Ubaldo, back in the fold to finish the job.
"Iisa lang ang sistema pero yun in-game adjustments sa kanila talaga yun. Maganda yung start namin pero medyo nag-off tayo sa third set because sa mix ng mga players," Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak said.
Faida Bakanke in action for FEU against Letran in the SSL National Invitationals, August 29, 2025 at the University of Batangas Millennium Gym in Batangas City. Handout/SSL
Clarisse Loresco led FEU's balanced scoring as the Alas Pilipinas member finished with 11 points on her return to her natural position as middle blocker.
Loresco, who plays opposite spiker with the national team, hammered seven spikes, three kill blocks and an ace.
Faida Bakanke got 10 points while Ia David, Alyzza Devosora and Gerzel Petallo scored five each. Ubaldo tallied eight excellent sets in just two sets of action off the bench for the Lady Tamaraws, who will battle University of Batangas next.
Letran trimmed down FEU's five-point lead in the closing stretch of the third set to just two, 23-21, after a Verenicce Colendra hit.
David countered with a kill before Colendra committed the last of the Lady Knights' 21 errors to hand last year's runner-up FEU the win in the tournament, which has Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, F2 Logistics, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.
Colendra and Gia Maquilang finished with 10 apiece for Letran, which will take on NCAA rival College of Saint Benilde in Day 2.