NOT every Cinderella run ends with a championship.
Far Eastern University's remarkable resurgence in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament will be remembered as one of the most inspiring stories of the year.
READ: Vengeful NU Lady Bulldogs rip FEU, reach UAAP Finals vs UST
The Lady Tamaraws came so close to becoming the first fourth seeds to topple a No. 1 seed — one that would’ve ended a six-year Finals drought for the league’s winningest team with 29 championships under their belt.
Yet, despite their Game One upset of top-ranked National University, the Morayta side couldn't replicate the success. The Lady Bulldogs responded by sweeping the rematch on Wednesday.
Despite enduring multiple coaching changes and a one-win campaign just two years ago, pride permeates the FEU camp. They have revitalized the school's women's volleyball program in a remarkably short period.
Bringing the storied Lady Tamaraws back to the Final Four marks a significant step in regaining lost glory and signifies the promising future ahead for the team.
“Siyempre, masakit. Pinaghandaan din namin (itong laban versus NU) pero titignan natin 'yung brighter side. Good run, good season sa’min. Napakalayo na (ng FEU) from the past two seasons na pinang-galingan namin,” said first-year FEU head coach Manolo Refugia.
“Nakaka-proud na ito 'yung narating namin, na na-meet namin 'yung goal namin na makabalik sa Final Four. Hindi namin makalimutan 'yung from scratch namin (na pagbuo ng team na ‘to) so nakaka-proud kasi nakikita ko silang mag-grow. Sabay-sabay kaming na-gro-grow, marami kaming natutunan, at maraming taon pa kaming magsasama pa,” he added.
Refugia highlighted the potential for growth, emphasizing that experiencing such as a tough loss will ultimately strengthen the Lady Tamaraws.
“Napaka-gandang experience (ng season na ‘to) sa team kasi na-feel namin kung ano 'yung pakiramdam ng manalo, anong pakiramdam ng matalo nang may panghihinayang, so maraming lessons sa’min. Nakaka-proud na intact nga kami (for next season) so marami pang room para mag-improve bawat isa, even us coaches,” said Refugia.
FEU's time will come
Visibly distraught following their Final Four exit, FEU senior Chenie Tagaod and top playmaker Tin Ubaldo are counting on the promise of what could be moving forward after enduring the last few years of struggles and heartbreaks.
Tagaod first bared how the seismic wave of internal changes within the team took a toll on them in terms of building chemistry and consistency as a unit. But if Season 86 proved anything for FEU, they’re no longer the embattled squad they used to be with Refugia at the helm — one who fought for and stuck with them through the highs and lows.
“‘Yung first year namin, iba coach. Second year namin, iba (ulit). Ngayong (season), iba. Du’n pa lang (sa pabago-bagong coaches), mahirap na. Pero ‘yung pagtitiwala namin sa isa't isa and sa mga bata (sa team), sobrang laki na kasi alam namin na mas makakatulong sila sa’min, lalong-lalo na ‘yung coaches,” said Tagaod.
“Sobrang thankful kami kay Coach Nols (Refugia) siyempre kasi talagang hindi niya kami iniwan kahit sobrang hirap. Nandun pa rin siya kahit na umabot kami sa point na kami na yung aayaw sa kanya pero hindi niya kami binitawan. Talagang hinawakan niya kami, pinaglaban niya kami,” she added.
And if there’s one thing Tagaod and Ubaldo will hold on to going to Season 87 next year, it’s that FEU’s time will come and is now a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ for them and the Tamaraws faithful.
“Isipin niyo ‘yung Season 84 namin, isang panalo tapos ngayon (nasa Final Four kami). Makikita naman talaga kung gaano na nag-improve yung team. Hopefully, by next year, hindi man ngayon, dadating at dadating tayo sa oras na ‘yun.
“Kahit pa sa dami naming pagkukulang, alam namin na nandyan sila (FEU community) para sa’min and sobrang thankful talaga kasi nga hindi nila kami sinukuan,” said Tagaod.
Ubaldo added: “Simula Season 84, ‘pag lilingon ka sa crowd, five, seven lang ‘yung manonood samin. Season 85, sakto lang. Pero ngayon, kahit kami nagulat sa sobrang daming nanonood sa’min kaya super happy po ako na naniniwala sila sa’min.”
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