After De La Salle University finished Far Eastern University in straight sets on Saturday, Lady Spikers Angel Canino and Leiah Malaluan made sure to give props to Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak.
The three go way back with De La Salle-Zobel, when Salak was still the mentor of the proud high school squad while the two players were members.
Their days in Alabang were memorable for when they beat the dominant National University Nazareth School in the UAAP Season 81 girls’ volleyball finals.
And seeing FEU improve from its standing in Season 84 – a one-win performance – made Canino and Malaluan proud of their former mentor.
The Lady Tamaraws are now at 2-3, gaining wins over University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University.
“Yung disiplina niya (Salak) sobrang nakakaiba and siguro part yun kung bakit nag-improve yung FEU nang ganon na sobra within less than a year na hinandle niya yung FEU,” said Canino, who’s been an early favorite in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
“Proud ako sa kanya kasi as a new head coach ng FEU, malayo na rin yung narating ng FEU,” echoed Malaluan, who played her first game this season after being sidelined the first four games due to a minor knee injury.
Seeing Salak on the other side of the court made the La Salle duo reminisce of what the legendary setter-turned-coach instilled on them.
Salak played for Army in Shakey’s V-League among other tournaments for 11 years and was also an officer and with it, comes the discipline of a military woman.
“For me Coach Tina kasi yung disiplina [itinuro] niya sa amin nung high school kami nandoon talaga and going up against her, nandoon pa rin yung respect,” said Malaluan.
Leading the Lady Tamaraws this season are rookies Mitzi Panangin, Alyzza Devosora, Marga Encarnacion, and Gerzel Petallo.
With the newcomers shining in Salak’s system, Canino knows her former coach is satisfied.
“Sobrang proud po ako sa kanya, sobrang happy po ako sa kanya kasi yun yung gusto niya eh, makapagturo ng mga bata talaga and makapag-improve,” said the Season 81 girls MVP.
“Kahit po kaharap namin sila, kaharap ko si Coach Tina, mataas po yung respeto ko sa kanya kasi siya po yung unang coach na nagrecruit sa akin, nagtiwala sa akin.”
