FAR Eastern University (FEU) joined rival University of Santo Tomas (UST) on top after escaping a sliding De La Salle University (DLSU) in five sets Sunday at the weekend hostilities of the 72nd UAAP men's volleyball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.
Nestor Molate scattered 19 points while team captain Rodolfo Labrador and Kirk Biliran combined for 29 points to seal the win for the Morayta based-squad.
Quarter scores are 25-16, 21-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-12, in favor of the Tamaraws.
The Tamaraws now hold a 5-1 win-loss card, while the Green Archers slipped to 2-4 joining archnemesis Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles and Adamson University (AdU) Falcons.
On the second game, Lloyd Belgado and Michael Arda delivered the hits for the University of the Philippines (UP) after crushing Adamson, 24-26, 27-25, 25-21, 25-20 in the 90-minute action.
The Fighting Maroons grabbed the solo second spot (4-2), half game ahead of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors who absorbed a surprising loss to the Blue Eagles Sunday.
Still at the Arena, contender Adamson Lady Falcons crushed the hopes of the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons to move up on the ladder after cruising to a straight set victory.
Quarter scores are 25-19, 27-25, 25-18 all for the San Marcelino squad.
Skipper Angela Benting paced the Lady Falcons with 16 hits, 14 spikes and two service aces while Jill Gustilo and Paulina Soriano scored 15 and 12 points, respectively.
“We are happy but we still have to keep on going. The race to the top is getting tighter,” said Coach Dulce Panti.
Bannering the Lady Maroons' losing cause are team captain Carmina Barcelon and Carmela Lopez who combined for 17 of their team's 77-point total in the game.
The Maroons slipped to 1-5 joining the Lady Red Warriors who lost heavily to the Lady Tigresses last Saturday.
On the last bill, the Lady Eagles shocked perennial contender Lady Tamaraws for the fourth spot in a nip-and-tuck affair, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-16.
Team captain Denise Acevedo dished out a virtuoso performance, tallying 13 points and 12 spikes to lead the Lady Eagles to their fourth win in six outings. Bea Pascual and Fille Cainglet added 12 points each.
The win tied the Katipunan-based tossers with the Lady Tigresses at 4-2 while the Morayta ladies dropped to solo fifth (3-3).
The schedule of games on Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City is as follows: 9:00 a.m. - NU vs UE (men); 11:00 a.m. - ADMU vs. DLSU (men) 2:00 p.m. - UP vs NU (women); 4:00 p.m. - ADMU vs UE (women). (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)