Far Eastern University weathered a fierce rally from College of Saint Benilde to notch its third straight victory, pulling off a gritty 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 24-26, 15-8 win in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Sunday, August 24, afternoon at the Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in Manila.

Coming off a draining five-set win over Arellano University the day before, the Lady Tamaraws again displayed composure in crunch time, leaning on the explosive tandem of Faida Bakanke and Jaz Ellarina to outlast the reigning NCAA champions.

Bakanke delivered 22 points from 17 attacks, three blocks, and two aces, while Ellarina was just as reliable with 21 points on 15 attacks and six blocks. Their efforts powered FEU to a 4-1 record at the tournament’s halfway point.

FEU steadies in the deciding set

After squandering match points in both the third and fourth sets, FEU came out determined in the fifth. Ellarina struck twice early, Lopez added a hit, and Bakanke nailed a crosscourt winner to fuel an 11-5 cushion.

Benilde trimmed the gap briefly, but FEU responded with another Ellarina attack and a Bakanke block before capitalizing on a service error to secure the hard-earned win in two hours and five minutes.

Lovely Lopez chipped in nine points and 15 receptions on her 20th birthday, while Petallo anchored the defense with 14 points, 22 receptions, and 10 digs. Captain Tin Ubaldo orchestrated the offense with 26 excellent sets, while Margarett Encarnacion recorded 17 receptions.

Benilde suffers second straight loss

The Lady Blazers, who opened the tournament with a 3-0 record, fell to 3-2 after back-to-back defeats. Zam Nolasco paced Benilde with 21 points built on 16 attacks, four blocks, and an ace. Rhea Densing added 16 points, while Shekinah Lleses contributed 13 markers and 22 receptions.

Despite the loss, Benilde showed resilience by extending the match to five sets, but the Lady Tamaraws proved steadier when it mattered most.

FEU will try to stretch its streak to four when it faces Perpetual Help on Tuesday, August 26. Benilde, meanwhile, seeks to snap its skid against fellow NCAA contender Arellano University on the same day at Paco Arena.