Action between FEU and Perpetual Help in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, September 29, 2025 at the FilOil Centre in San Juan. PVL Media
MANILA -- Far Eastern University denied Perpetual Help's bid for an upset en route to a four-set victory in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Monday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Tamaraws secured a 25-18, 19-25, 25-18, 25-11 triumph to clinch the second seed heading into the semifinals.
It was also their fifth straight win in the preliminaries, giving them a 6-1 win-loss card -- just ahead of College of St. Benilde (5-2), which wrapped up their own elimination round assignment with a win over Arellano University.
READ: Lady Blazers close prelims with 4-set win over Arellano
The best-of-three semifinal series between FEU and Benilde opens Wednesday at the same San Juan venue.
Top seed Adamson University (7-0) will take on Arellano University (4-3) in the other semifinal pairing for a spot in the Finals.
Gerzel Petallo spearheaded FEU’s attack, particularly in their decisive fourth-set surge, tallying 21 points built on 19 attacks and two service aces, on top of five digs and seven excellent receptions. Alyzza Devosora provided ample support with seven points, 10 digs, and nine excellent receptions.
"Yung sa game ngayon, I think medyo naging complacent 'yung team pero bumawi naman kami. Aware naman kami na naging gano'n 'yung galaw ng team; so, ina-adjust lang naming na walang mag-a-underestimate ng (kalaban) kasi lahat gustong manalo," said Petallo on their slow start and eventual recovery.
"Yun, talagang naging mas eager po kami at mas nag-step up kami lahat para hindi po mangyari 'yung hindi po natin gusting mangyari."
With head coach Tina Salak unavailable, deputy mentor Manolo Refugia took charge and fielded all but one player from the lineup, still finding the collective effort he wanted from the semifinal-bound Lady Tamaraws.
Skipper and setter Tin Ubaldo once again orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out 23 excellent sets alongside five points as FEU overwhelmed Perpetual in the attacking department, 62-32.
Jernalyn Menor tried to keep Perpetual in the fight with 21 points off 20 spikes and a service ace, but it wasn’t enough to lift the Lady Altas to a strong finish.
The Lady Altas wrapped up their campaign with a 2-5 record, settling for sixth place in the eight-team field.