Chenie Tagaod found an unlikely source of motivation heading into Far Eastern University’s do-or-die match against National University.
While scrolling through her phone during their preparation against the top-seeded Lady Bulldogs, Tagaod took inspiration from Sisi Rondina’s Choco Mucho team in the Premier Volleyball League.
After 12 losses against Creamline, Choco Mucho finally ended a long spell. They won for the first time in franchise history against its sister team on Tuesday, 13-25, 19-25, 25-21, 25-20, 18-16.
And it was more special since it came during the round-robin semifinals of the ongoing All-Filipino Conference.
Tagaod absorbed the energy of winning when it matters most as FEU denied National U on Saturday evening in straight sets fashion, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23.
The win forces a rubber match in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Final Four at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
(C) Joaqui Flores/PVL
“Doon kasi ako mas nagising sa sinabi ni Ate Sisi Rondina na parang sa elimination, hindi talaga sila nanalo sa Creamline. And then nung pumasok sila ng semis against Creamline, nakuha nila,” shared Tagaod, who spearheaded the Lady Tamaraws’ offense with 12 points to go with 10 receptions.
“Ilang taon yata nila bago nakuha yung panalong yun. Nakita ko kasi yung interview ni Ate Sisi na ibig sabihin kasi no’n, hindi man ngayon yung panahon pero dadating at dadating tayo doon,” added the 22-year-old spiker out of USJ-R.
FEU finished the eliminations with a 9-5 record at fourth but failed to beat National University and De La Salle University in two attempts each.
The Lady Tamaraws fell to the Lady Bulldogs in the first round, 17-25, 25-13, 17-25, 20-25, and in the second round, 21-25, 19-25, 22-25.
But just like Rondina and Choco Mucho, Tagaod and FEU picked the perfect day to shock their elimination round tormentor.
(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Inintay talaga nila yung araw na yun para manalo sila, so mas nagtiwala ako doon sa mga kasama ko kasi nga, hindi naman namin minamadali. Ginawang process talaga sa ensayo hanggang sa ito na nakukuha na namin siya,” said Tagaod.
The rubber match will be on Wednesday at the Big Dome. There, the Lady Tamaraws look to become the first fourth seed ever to enter the Finals in women’s volleyball since the format was introduced back in 2004.
