BY Andrei Barrantes
LAST year in a promising UAAP Season 86 run, Far Eastern University unveiled matching t-shirts that had big, bold words emblazoned on them.
"CHASING HISTORY." With a trophy, as well as the number 30 adorning them.
The Lady Tamaraws put them on display beginning in that season's beach volleyball tournament, which was played months before its indoor counterpart.
Come the women's volleyball tournament itself, the goal didn't change for the green-and-gold: claim a long-elusive title for the league's winningest program.
FEU finished eliminations as the fourth seed before even taking a bite out of eventual champion National U. Its campaign eventually ended in the do-or-die semifinal, but it was nonetheless a big leap forward for a team that last hoisted the trophy in 2008 and was two years removed from a one-win season.
Fast forward to the ongoing Season 87 tournament, and history continues to beckon, with legendary Tina Salak back calling the shots.
READ: Salak comeback needed this sacrifice to happen. Find out what
The Lady Tamaraws are still chasing history, still setting their sights on number 30 - and they aren't being quiet about it.
Of course, Salak knows a thing or two about a winning mentality, being a UAAP champion in her own right as a player.
That being said, she expects the same sort of fire and desire from the wards she now mentors.
“For the longest time, hindi kami nag-champion, so very meaningful ito para sa aming lahat, hindi lang sa akin," she said.
"I want to give back sa FEU, doon ako galing eh. And also yung pride ng FEU, na winning talaga kami.”
F-E-you gotta want it
As FEU recovers from back-to-back losses thanks to a second straight win, its head coach is very much confident about their chances at history - though she still seeks much more passion from her players.
READ: Lady Tamaraws get on a roll after flattening Lady Warriors
“‘Yung Final Four na stage, hindi naman biro na pangarapin. Nandiyan yung high hopes pa rin. Ang sa'kin lang, magkaroon lang talaga sila ng commitment pa. And ‘yun nga, yung ‘Be Brave’ na mantra ng FEU, sana mas ma-embrace pa nila,” she said.
Good thing then, that as Salak revealed, the Lady Tams have welcomed help from team therapist Christelle Jimenez on how to cultivate a winning mentality, while at the same time giving a reminder that it all needs to begin from within.
“‘Yung winning mindset kasi nagsisimula naman yan within (the) individual. Hindi ko pwedeng i-instill lang na ako lang ang gustong manalo. It's up to them kung paano nila gugustuhing ma-chase yung 30th na yan,” she added.
Though nothing is set in stone just yet, Salak-led FEU is in a good place and its hopes for ring No. 30 is very much alive and kicking
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