FAMILIARITY and a strong push from the team’s senior core paved the way for Manolo Refugia’s return as head coach of the FEU Lady Tamaraws.
Refugia is set to take over the reins anew in Morayta for UAAP Season 89, with PLDT champion coach Rald Ricafort coming in as team consultant in a significant shakeup for the women’s volleyball program.
The move reunites a coaching tandem that continues to work together in the PVL, where Refugia serves as one of Ricafort’s trusted deputies at PLDT.
Refugia is no stranger to the role as the longtime FEU mentor previously steered the Lady Tamaraws to the Final Four in UAAP Season 86 before returning to an assistant coaching role under Tina Salak for the next two campaigns.
This time, however, his return carried far more weight than a simple coaching change.
Multiple sources revealed that FEU’s senior players strongly lobbied for Refugia’s reinstatement, believing the veteran tactician remains the best person to lead the team through what could be a pivotal final season for much of the current core.
In fact, sources said the seniors’ backing of Refugia played a major role in convincing nearly the entire veteran group to stay for one more year.
All seniors except now-Choco Mucho and Alas Pilipinas setter Tin Ubaldo are expected to return for Season 89, with the players seeing Refugia’s comeback as a stabilizing force after an up-and-down stretch for the program.
The development underscores the level of confidence the Lady Tamaraws’ veterans have in the coach who helped shape much of their collegiate careers.
Refugia’s familiarity with the system, his relationships with the players and his early track record within the program reportedly became key factors in discussions regarding FEU’s direction moving forward.
Adding Ricafort as consultant further strengthens the Lady Tamaraws’ coaching staff.
Fresh off steering PLDT to two breakthrough titles last year, Ricafort adds winning pedigree to a program seeking to re-establish itself among the UAAP’s elite contenders.
For now, that senior group already got its first wish granted: the coach they wanted back is once again calling the shots in Morayta.
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.
