Lady Tams eye UAAP title after V-League conquest

“Agno has further sharpened her defensive skills by copping 

the Best Receiver award.”

 By Joey Villar (The Philippine Star)

May 26, 2014

----------o0o-----------

Source: http://www.philstar.com/sports/2014/05/26/1327532/lady-tams-eye-uaap-title-after-v-league-conquest

----------o0o----------

MANILA, Philippines -- Newly crowned Shakey's V-League Season 11- First Conference champion Far Eastern U has already felt victory the moment it made it the semifinals of the country's biggest volleyball event.

After all, the Lady Tams' main goal is to get as much experience as they can here and use it when in the UAAP where it should be regarded as one of the legitimate contenders of the throne precariously held by the Ateneo Lady Eagles.

"Our goal here in the Shakey's V-League is to just gain as much experience as we can and hopefully apply it in the UAAP," said FEU coach Shaq delos Santos in Filipino moments after steering FEU to an improbably title sweep of last year's winner National U at The Arena in San Juan City Sunday.

"Making the semifinals and the finals and winning the championship are just bonuses for our hardwork," he added.

Delos Santos were all praises to his players especially on the troika of Bernadette Pons, Mary Remy Joy Palma and libero Christine Agno for their exceptional performances the whole of the conference.

The power-hitting Pons shone the brightest as she came through against an NU team expected to also contend in the UAAP volley wars like Ateneo and La Salle.

Palma, for her part, has shown huge improvement in terms of her attacking style and net defense while Agno has further sharpened her defensive skills by copping the Best Receiver award.

"Pons, Palma and Agno have gained a lot from this experience. The whole team as well. The confidence we got here will go a long, long way in the UAAP," said delos Santos.

Rachel Daquis, an FEU alumna who joined the team as a guest player, agrees.

"Playing in the Shakey's V-League toughened me up as a player and I know it did to them (Lady Tams) what it did to me with this experience," said Daquis, who was adjudged finals MVP after firing 15 hits in the series-clinching 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 win over NU.

----------o0o---------

Photo Credit:

* Arnold Z. Cruz

* Art Barbadillo