AHEAD of UAAP Season 86, former Far Eastern University men’s volleyball team setter and captain Manolo Refugia was offered the job of head coach of the Lady Tamaraws with a task so daunting that those with a faint of heart would not have accepted it.
The target was the volleyball tournament's Final Four. Refugia was not one to shy away from a challenge. A few days ago, he and the Lady Tams achieved their goal and did it in style by beating tournament leader University of Santo Tomas in five sets, 25-19, 19-25, 25-21, 20-25, 15-10.
It's just one of many goals, according to Refugia who carried the team to only its second semifinals in five years. He said there is no time to relax as the journey ahead will be far more difficult.
READ: FEU Lady Tamaraws sink leader UST, book place in Final Four
Credit for the team's recent success is not Refugia's alone. Former star FEU setter Tina Salak also deserve some of it as she joined the coaching staff midway through the season and made inputs regarding strategy, training and attitude.
“Napakatamis nitong moment na ‘to. Na-feel namin kung paano kami (nahirapan sa simula) tapos napakatamis na talaga kasi nandito na kami sa objective namin na nakuha na namin ngayon, kaya napakatamis. So sweet,” Refugia said.
Three more prelims matches await before the semifinals and there's a chance the team can rise from its current fourth in the standings, depending on their results and that of the other teams in the semifinals, namely UST, La Salle and National University.
“Malaking morale boost sa amin ‘to na makamit ‘tong ganitong panalo. Napakasarap, pero,siyempre, mas ma-momotivate pa kami kasi kailangan pa naming i-exceed ‘yung goal na Final Four. May remaining games pa kami na dapat paghandaan (versus UP, UE and NU) so focus pa rin doon,” Refugia said.
Refugia, however, relishes the rivalry against UST which he said dates back to many years when his predecessors also welcomed the competition with their next door neighbor.
“‘Yang rivalry na 'yan, dati pa eh, simula pa kay Coach Kid (Santos) at Coach Emil (Lontoc) sa men’s. Nung nasa men’s team ako, nung naglalaro ako dati, talagang gusto ni Coach Kid, matalo na sa lahat ‘wag lang sa UST kasi super close si Coach Kid at Coach Emil.
“Close sila, pero ‘pag labanan na, talagang ganun. Ngayon, ‘di nawawala yung rivalry. Napakasarap sa feeling pa rin na makita ‘yung rivalry na umuusbong pa, dumadami yung fans pa rin, nabubuhay pa rin,” said Refugia.
Dream big and be brave
Moving forward, Refugia vowed to give his and the Lady Tamaraws’ bravest efforts in a bid to go all the way en route to a 30th UAAP women’s volleyball crown for the league’s winningest school.
“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. Sama-sama tayong lumaban sa Final Four,” Refugia said.
“Masaya pero hindi pa natatapos ‘yung trabaho. Nandito na kami, eh ‘di mangangarap na kami nang sobra-sobra.”
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