TIME has been the ultimate game-changer for Far Eastern University as it now stands on the verge of a breakthrough Finals appearance in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
Poised as serious title contenders after a seismic straight-sets upset of top-seeded National University, it was a different story altogether for the once-cellar-dwelling Lady Tamaraws just two seasons ago.
READ: FEU keeps title hopes alive by whipping NU in straight sets
From the heights of a runner-up finish in Season 80, FEU fell flat on its face when post-pandemic volleyball action returned in Season 84 (2022) with a dismal one-win campaign to finish dead last in the team standings.
A tough exit for champion mentor George Pascua after that season saw the entry of a school and sporting legend in Tina Salak who orchestrated a turnaround like no other with a six-win, fifth-place finish just under a year later come Season 85.
Salak would then vacate her post before Season 86 prior to rejoining the team’s coaching staff under first-year head coach Manolo Refugia — a former FEU volleyball ace himself.
With Refugia at the helm, the Lady Tamaraws ended their five-year Final Four drought with a 9-5 (win-loss) card and secured a coveted Top Four spot.
As the neophyte coach moves to within a win away from a date with destiny, Refugia stressed how the team’s overwhelming emotions and desire to win won’t see their meteoric rise crash right back down anytime soon.
“Mataas ‘yung emotions (dahil sa panalo na ‘to) pero sabi ko nga, job’s not finished pa so kailangan pa ring trabahuhin. Konti na lang naman eh. Sakripisyo.
“Hindi kami makakalimot na tumapak pa rin sa lupa. Parang ‘yung feeling kasi, nasa cloud nine, so kailangang bumalik ulit dahil hindi pa tapos talaga. Meron pa, kaya pa, may ibubuga pa kaya laban. Laban talaga,” said Refugia.
No end in sight to Lady Tamaraws’ rise
FEU lead playmaker Tin Ubaldo, who was part of the Lady Tamaraws’ rebuild campaigns in Seasons 84 and 85, vowed there’s no turning back now in what has been a groundbreaking renaissance for the storied women’s volleyball program.
“Super eager po kaming makapasok sa Finals at naging inspiration ko po ‘yung Season 84 namin para makarating dito. ‘Yun po ‘yung nilo-look back ko na kumbaga, ‘di na namin papayagang mangyari ulit ‘yun.
“Nasa sa’min na po kung ano ‘yung ipapakita namin, never mind na po kung ano ‘yung iniisip ng iba. Kami po as a team, hindi ganun ‘yung iniisip namin (na gate-crashers lang kami),” said Ubaldo.
Through the highs and lows of a challenging two-year period, Ubaldo and fellow veteran ace Chenie Tagaod had nothing but gratitude for the FEU faithful that has braved the storms of seasons past with them.
"Magkasama kami ni Tin (Ubaldo) nu'ng Season 84, so inisip ko talaga na ayoko nang bumalik sa feeling na sobrang down kami at sobrang layo namin kasi knowing FEU, grabe 'yung sistema na binibigay nila sa players. Ayoko na ulit talaga maranasan 'yun," said Tagaod.
Ubaldo added: “Super thankful po ako sa lahat ng nanood ngayon at sa lahat ng manonood pa sa susunod kasi sabi nga ni Chenie (Tagaod), hindi niyo kami sinukuan since Seasons 84 and 85. Up until now, nandito pa rin kayo kaya masasabi ko na lang na talagang we'll play our hearts out."
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