THERE won’t be a better time for Far Eastern University to embody its ‘Be Brave’ mantra than in its forthcoming Final Four run in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
For the first time since Season 81 in 2019, the Lady Tamaraws will finish the elimination round within the top four and can still shoot for a twice-to-beat advantage either against reigning champion La Salle, last year’s finalist National University and league-leader University of Sto. Tomas — the team FEU outlasted for the last Final Four spot on Saturday.
READ: UST, La Salle, NU in tight race for twice-to-beat spots. See SCENARIOS
From a lackluster 2-3 (win-loss) start to the season, the Morayta side turned its fate and fortune around by winning five of its last six matches en route to the semis.
And the overarching goal that has propelled the Lady Tamaraws’ turnaround: Bring back FEU’s glory days as the sport’s winningest school with 29 UAAP women’s volleyball championships.
"Napakasarap ng feeling kasi siyempre, 'yun ngang glory days ng FEU ay parang pilit naming binabalik. Ngayon, nandito na kami ngayon sa Final Four. Masaya, pero hindi pa natatapos yung trabaho eh.
“Nandito na kami, eh 'di mangarap na kami nang sobra-sobra," said head coach Manolo Refugia, a former captain of FEU’s men’s volleyball team who has now led the Lady Tamaraws to the Final Four in his first season in charge.
FEU braver than ever
Brimming with pride and jubilation over this historic achievement, Refugia and FEU senior ace Jean Asis are determined to demonstrate that the Lady Tamaraws didn't come this far simply to settle for what they've accomplished.
With everything to gain in this journey, you can bet they won't settle for anything less than a podium finish. But their eyes are set even higher — on the ultimate glory of clinching Morayta's 30th title.
“Excited kami kasi ngayon lang ulit kami nakaramdam ng ganitong feeling na parang nasa ulap ngayon. Ang tagal nga naming hinintay, ang tagal pinagtrabahuan. ‘Yung tapang, ‘yung ‘Be Brave’ na mantra, ididire-diretso na namin kung hanggang saan ang abutin, kung hanggang saan ang kalabasan, basta ibibigay namin lahat,” Refugia said.
She said the "Be Brave" manta will serve as their battlecry till the end.
“Sobrang laking tulong din ng salitang ‘Be Brave’ kasi ni-reremind kami na ‘wag dapat panghinaan ng loob. Kahit lamang sila, dapat mas maging matapang,” Asis added.
Impossible is nothing
Once the backmarkers, the Lady Tamaraws staked their claim as a serious title contenders alongside the trifecta of frontrunners — more so after snapping their run of seven straight losses to UST in style.
Entering the Final Four, FEU will hold on now more than ever to the belief that impossible is nothing for the brave.
"Unang-una, thank you sa FEU community, kasi andiyan sila para sumuporta. Asahan niyo na ibibigay pa namin yung kung ano pa yung best namin, ibibigay namin. Ayun, sama-sama tayong lumaban sa Final Four," Refugia said.
Asis added: "Wala naman pong imposible. Kung na-beat namin yung top one ngayon, why not sa ibang team? Basta tiyagaan lang, sipagan lang and tiwala lang sa bawat isa. Siguro naman, mangyayari kung ano 'yung dapat mangyari."
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