TINA Salak made the ultimate sacrifice to return to the institution that bred her to be one of the greatest players Philippine volleyball has ever seen.
READ: Salak comeback has Lady Tams dreaming even bigger
When the 48-year-old setter-turned-coach stepped down as Lady Tamaraws head coach after UAAP Season 85, she was already preparing for life away from volleyball for good shortly before tying the knot with longtime partner Pauline Gretel in Canada.
Only, the call of duty from Morayta came ringing again — nearly seven thousand miles away from her new home in the other side of the world.
Even as her family settled down in the Americas, Salak knew deep in her heart that a return to Far Eastern University, her beloved alma mater, was an opportunity she just couldn’t turn down.
“Hindi naging madali kasi ang dami kong kinailangang i-sacrifice. Even ‘yung buong family ko, nandun na (sa America),” Salak shared with SPIN.ph.
“Ang sa’kin lang, ayokong magkaroon ng regret na hindi ko ‘to tinuloy or hindi ko ni-try. You never know, nandito na rin eh.”
The feeling of home with the Lady Tamaraws was one Salak kept searching for. And now that she’s back, it all just felt right.
“Familiar team talaga, sobrang familiar na nga eh. Pero happy, sobrang happy. Ang tagal ko ‘tong hinanap eh. Nu’ng umalis ako, nawala, sabi ko parang may kulang, so kinailangan kong bumalik,” Salak said.
Salak-Refugia 1-2 punch
Coming off a surprise Season 86 Final Four appearance under then-neophyte head coach Manolo Refugia, there wasn’t necessarily any need for a coaching switch with last year’s team still intact for Season 87.
But as the old adage goes, two great minds are better than one.
“Malaking change from (Seasons) 85 to 86, thanks to coach Nols (Refugia). Nu’ng absence ko after 85, siya talaga nag-turn around nu’n. Ang sa’kin lang is na-motivate ako this Season 87 du’n sa naging result, naging outcome ng ginawa ni coach Nols,” said Salak.
“We worked hard, nag-collab kami ng mga programs, even du’n sa mga thoughts sa kung ano pa ‘yung pwedeng ma-improve pa. Tinatanong ko talaga kung ano ‘yung mga pwede pa namin gawin.
“’Yun ‘yung working harmony namin, maganda ‘yung work ethic namin, ‘yung respect namin and also nagkaroon ng transparency sa relationship namin.”
This year’s roster is a constant and so are those in FEU’s coaching staff. What they’d like to change for Season 87 is the result they had last year.
Fourth place is good, but the Lady Tamaraws can charge farther than fourth as the dream for a 30th UAAP women's volleyball crown lives on.
As their comebacking coach put it, “Same privilege, (halos) same lineup, so happy kami, pero sana different result. Gusto naming medyo umangat pa tayo.”
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.
