MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) De La Salle University is just one win away from a third consecutive UAAP women's volleyball title, but not before the Lady Spikers got a scare from a very game Far Eastern University team in Game 1 of the Season 80 Finals.

The Lady Spikers labored to a 29-27, 25-21, 25-22 triumph on Saturday in front of 14,293 fans at the Araneta Coliseum, in the process earning a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series.

They will try to secure the Grand Slam – an 11th overall crown in program history – in Game 2 at the Big Dome Wednesday.

It was a hard-earned victory for the two-time defending champions, as they were pushed by a gritty FEU squad that showed no quit despite being finals debutantes. Unfortunately for the Lady Tamaraws, they were held back by a multitude of errors.

"During the eliminations, hirap na hirap kami sa FEU," said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus, whose squad was pushed by FEU to five sets in both of their elimination-round games.

"Ang sabi ko sa kanila, ang susi lang dito ay mag-tiyaga, 'wag nating i-give up kahit ano'ng situation," he explained. "Defense man 'yan, blocking man 'yan, ang importante dito ay 'wag tayong mag-give up kahit anong situation."

Kianna Dy was the lone player in double digits for La Salle, with 10 points. But de Jesus got a superb game from May Luna, who had nine points off the bench, while skipper Majoy Baron and Tin Tiamzon each had eight. It helped that La Salle got 34 free points off FEU's unforced errors.

The opening set was a contentious affair. La Salle was in control most of the way, going up 14-7 against a tense FEU team. But the Lady Tamaraws worked their way back thanks to the serving of skipper Bernadeth Pons and timely shots by Chin-Chin Basas; they tied the set at 18 off a quick kill by Celine Domingo.

FEU's inexperience on the grand stage showed itself when the Lady Tamaraws committed five straight errors – three of which were committed by Pons – allowing La Salle to seize control again, 23-18. However, the Lady Tamaraws also displayed their fighting spirit as they won seven of the next eight rallies to surge ahead, 25-24.

Once again, it was Pons and Basas who led the way for the Lady Tamaraws, with the latter nailing back-to-back hits to tie it at 24 before Kyle Negrito drilled an ace for the lead and the set point.

Unfortunately for FEU, its error-prone ways would haunt the team. Negrito sent her next serve long, tying the count at 25. An offspeed kill by Pons swung the lead back to the Lady Tamaraws, but another service error – this time by Jeanette Villareal – as well as a mishit by Pons gave La Salle back the lead, 27-26.

A Heather Guino-o hit tied the frame for the last time at 27, before Tiamzon nailed a crosscourt kill and Basas sent her last attack long to give La Salle the win.

"Kun'di namin nakuha ang first set, baka hindi magkakaganoon," said de Jesus, whose wards needed 35 minutes to wrap up the opening frame. "Kahit malayo ka, 'di ka nakakasiguro (against FEU). Sabi ko, gumawa lang ng tama."

La Salle displayed its championship poise in the next two frames, fending off last-ditch rallies by the Lady Tamaraws.

In Set 2, FEU came to within two points, 21-23, before a Luna attack and an ace by setter Michelle Cobb finished off the Lady Tamaraws.

In Set 3, La Salle surged ahead, 22-18, before errors allowed the Lady Tamaraws to get to within, 22-21. But FEU, as it did time and again throughout the game, killed its own momentum by committing a miscue; this time, it was a service error by Carlota Hernandez – incidentally, FEU's service specialist.

Arriane Layug, another reserve, scored to make it 24-21 for FEU, before Guino-o blocked her in the next rally to save a match point. But the Lady Spikers would not even need to work for the match winner as Guino-o left her serve short to start the next rally.

Guino-o scored 14 points for FEU, but Pons (nine) and Basas (six) were limited by the Lady Spikers. Domingo had eight points in the match, but their key attackers were unable to get into any sort of rhythm offensively against La Salle's superb net defense.

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