UNIVERSITY of Sto. Tomas and Far Eastern University have 45 UAAP women's volleyball championships between them and naturally, this huge number of titles has spawned a rivalry nearly unmatched in the UAAP.
While they do have the most number of titles, it has been 14 years since either UST or FEU lifted the women's crown and 17 years since their last title showdown which the Tigresses won for what was then their 15th crown. UST has since upped its count by one, now 16, but FEU has remained stagnant at 29.
READ: FEU embraces 'Be Brave' mantra in UAAP Final Four return
The rivalry, however, has remained alive and this year, it may reach new heights as both teams are in the Final Four along with La Salle and National University. The situation is not lost on the schools' two coaches -- Kungfu Reyes of UST and Manolo Refugia of FEU.
“‘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 first-time FEU head coach Refugia, who once donned the green-and-gold for the Morayta side as its setter and team captain.
Golden memories of a special rivalry
Even after a tough five-set loss to the Lady Tamaraws, Reyes turned nostalgic as the storied rivalry wrote its latest chapter during UAAP women's volleyball's first visit at the historic Ninoy Aquino Stadium in over two decades.
The longtime Tigresses mentor recalled how his first year in Manila was made special by watching UST and FEU duke it out at the iconic sporting venue.
"'Yung old memories nga (bumabalik). I think nakapanood ako, third year high school ako nu'ng 1996, first kong makaapak ng Manila. That was Tina Salak's time, (Roxanne) Pimentel ng UST, sila Joan Butor pa that time. Ngayon, nagbabalik ('yung rivalry) kaya lang it's a different era na kami na 'yung nandiyan," said Reyes.
"Despite the loss, we're happy na talagang nandu'n pa rin 'yung pwede mo nang sabihin na parang tradisyon na ni UST at FEU 'yung talagang magbakbakan to the highest level 'yung capacity ng mga players namin.
"'Yung prestige at pride ng school maganda, 'yung fair play nandun. We're happy na nandu'n pa rin si UST at FEU and 'yun nga, congrats to FEU. Talagang deserve nilang mas manalo in today's game."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
