FAR Eastern University tightened its grip on the No. 4 spot after sweeping Adamson, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23, in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

By winning their second straight match, the Lady Tamaraws improved to 6-4 overall as they remained on course to return the Final Four after missing the bus in the last three seasons.

“Siyempre sa kinalalagyan namin ngayon, mas gigil pa kami na mas makamit yung goal namin na pumasok sa Final Four and also yung mga goal din naman na mabawian anmin yung natalo kami ng first round,” said FEU coach Manolo Refugia.

Defending champion La Salle, still without injured reigning MVP Angel Canino, overcame a tough University of the East side, 25-23, 21-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-12, to move in a tie with University of Santo Tomas at 9-1 in first place.

Tha Gagate had three blocks and two service aces to finish with 22 points while Shevana Laput also had three blocks for a 21-point outing for the Lady Spikers.

Alleiah Malaluan had 12 points, including two blocks, and collected 13 digs and five receptions while Em Provido and Maica Larroza, added 11 and nine points, respectively, for La Salle, which maximized its strength its blocking in the fifth set.

Khy Cepada had 23 points, including two blocks, and two service aces, while rookie Casiey Dongallo had a match-best five aces and three blocks to resume her high scoring ways with 20 points for the Lady Warriors.

With the Lady Falcons looking to extend the game, Faida Bakanke unleashed two consecutive hits late in the third set to stretch a 22-21 lead to three points, 24-21, and put the Lady Tamaraws at match point.

Adamson did not go down without a fight, capitalizing on a Chennie Tagaod service error followed by a Barbie Jamili attack to close the gap to a solitary point.

Gerzel Petallo went for the off-speed in the following play to try and seal the game, but the game was allowed to continue by the officials, forcing FEU to call a floor touch challenge – which they eventually won to end the match.

Four Lady Tamaraws finished in the double digits with Bakanke posting a game-high 13 points on 11 attacks and two blocks in the one-hour and 26-minute contest.

Tagaod added 12 points to go along with seven receptions while Petallo and Asis contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.

In the men’s division, FEU closed in on a Final Four berth after securing its fifth consecutive win at the expense of Adamson, 25-17, 25-17, 25-22.

The league-leading Tamaraws, who are already assured of at least a playoff for a Final Four slot, dominated the first two sets before escaping the Soaring Falcons in the third to improve their record to 9-1.

La Salle also strengthened its Final Four bid after eliminating University of the East, 25-17, 25-11, 25-21.

Ariel Cacao distributed the FEU’s balanced offensive attack so well with 17 excellent sets.

Martin Bugaoan top-scored for the Tamaraws with 11 points on nine attacks and two blocks while JJ Javelona and Andrei Delicana added nine markers apiec and Dryx Saavedra had eight points.

The Green Spikers hardly broke a sweat in the first two sets before fending off a late attempt by the Red Warriors in the third to clinch their second consecutive win, which kept them in the third spot with a 7-3 record.

“Sabi ko nga sa team, from after FEU, talagang kailangan focus kami sa succeeding games namin whoever magiging opponent namin. Handa talaga kami. Yun yung binigay ko na mindset. For us na makapasok lang sa Final Four,” said La Salle coach Jose Roque.

Noel Kampton’s efficiency was on full display against UE, tallying 17 points on a 76-percent attack rate to go along with nine receptions to le the Green Spikers, who played without team captain JM Ronquillo, who has yet to recover from an illness