FAR Eastern University, the winningest team in UAAP women's volleyball with 29 titles, is on the cusp of ending a five-year Final Four drought with six victories in 10 elimination round matches.
The improvement and the team's mindset about winning can be credited to the appointment of former FEU men's volleyball ace Manolo Refugia, as new coach. His presence has turned the Lady Tamaraws into a cohesive, fighting crew and this was noted by veteran spikers Chenie Tagaod and Jean Asis who both observed that the new system has done wonders for the team.
READ: Resurgent FEU Lady Tamaraws boost Final Four bid with rout of Adamson
“Mas naging inspiration sa’min na bumawi talaga kasi nga, may goal kami: Final Four, so hindi dapat namin bitawan ‘yung goal namin na ‘yun. Talagang ‘di lang doble — tripleng trabaho talaga,” Tagaod said.
Asis added: “Sobrang determinado po kami makapasok ng Final Four. Sobrang ginawa po talagang inspiration ‘yung mga nagdaang seasons since di po kami nakapasok, and grabe din po yung mga paghihirap po namin para makapasok for the Final Four.
“Pero now na nandito na yung Final Four, mas ine-aim pa po namin na ipush yung sarili namin, na hindi lang Final Four ‘yung [goal] namin, kundi makarating rin sa podium.”
Tagaod and Asis, part of the last two FEU teams which missed out on the Final Four, reflected on how the Morayta side’s shared mindset has drastically changed from being mere gate-crashers to serious semifinals contenders.
“Nung unang pasok ko sa FEU,’ yung goal lang namin, ‘di bale nang natatalo, basta may napikon kami. ‘Yun kami dati. Pero nung tumagal nang tumagal, pumasok si Coach (Tina Salak), then hinandle ni Coach Nols (Refugia)
“Nung una pa lang, si Coach Nols talaga ‘yung nakasama ko sa unang pasok ko sa FEU. ‘Di niya kami iniwan and talagang ngayon, excited na excited kami and pagtatrabahuhan talaga namin.”
Not bad for a first-timer
Although FEU’s Season 85 mentor and team legend Tina Salak rejoined the coaching staff midway through the elimination round, it was Refugia who instilled discipline and a new approach to the game that have translated into having their best run since their Season 80 runner-up finish.
"'Yung pressure talaga, nandito na. Lahat naman siguro tayo dito nakakaramdam ng pressure, even kayo, nakakaramdam. Parang normal lang. Kumbaga sa'kin, 'yung pressure na yun kailangan hindi ipakita," said Refugia.
"So kailangan talaga trabahuhin ko kung ano 'yung dapat trabahuhin and alam ko naman kasi na hindi ako nag-iisa sa pwesto na yun. Andiyan 'yung mga staff, nakikinig silang lahat sa'kin so 'di siya mahirap.
Nonetheless, the feeling of moving ever-so closer to the Final Four is still surreal for the young mentor.
"Medyo nandito na pala kami, nandito na pala ako," he said.
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