EVEN with a series of undisclosed injuries, Far Eastern University continues to charge on in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.
Dropping an early lead to defending champion National U in five sets a week ago fueled the Lady Tamaraws’ eventual five-set fightback against Ateneo on Sunday to split their four opening assignments.
READ: Lady Tams charge through Blue Eagles to get back on track
While still not ideal of a start for the reigning Final Four contenders, returning FEU head coach Tina Salak isn’t too worried with the track her wards have so far tread in the early goings of the tournament.
“Iba kasi yung naging experience namin against NU eh, so yun yung baon namin. Even (if) yung result nga nung sa NU game, 'di naging maganda, but iba pa rin yung experience na mapalaban ka sa champion team,” said Salak.
“Nagkaroon din kami ng adjustments, malaking adjustments kasi nga may injury list kami. Medyo kinaya, pero sana nga, wala nang mangyari ulit. Mahihirapan din kasi sila.”
Inconsistencies aside, what worries Salak most so far is the the green-and-gold's struggles in recovering from deficits and troubling starts.
With a tight stretch of matches ahead on Wednesday vs. University of the East then on Saturday vs. Adamson, balancing fight and rest is imperative, but still remains a challenge for the young Lady Tamaraws.
“Nahihirapan sila kung paano sila makaka-recover. Yun din yung mindset ng mga coaches after a big game, five-setter game, kung paano namin babalansehin yung recovery ng mga players for the next game,” said Salak.
“Next game namin, two days rest lang and then meron na ulit. So yun yung binabalanse namin para magkaroon ulit ng 100-percent sila, mentally and physically, na pagdating sa game.”
Now, not later for FEU
Salak’s vision for the foreseeable future? Making minor adjustments over unearthing unwanted deficiencies come the latter stage of prelims play.
“Dapat nag-aadjust na lang kami, hindi nakukulangan... Mga technicalities, like yung skills, dun namin ginagawa yung adjustments namin,” Salak said.
“Mahihirapan din kami sa ranking, pero at the end of the day, kailangan naming magtrabaho ulit.”
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