By: Christian David Ruiz
Far Eastern University-Diliman successfully avenged its semifinal loss last season to National University Nazareth in the ongoing UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Volleyball Tournament last Sunday.
Team captain Raine Alonzo and open hitter Shiela Pascual dedicated the victory over the Lady Bullpups to their previous seniors.
Pascual, 17, expressed the team’s motivation in honoring their former teammates.
“Palagi po naming iniisip na it’s for our seniors po na grumaduate since gusto din po ng lahat na ibawi yung seniors and maapply po lahat ng pinageensayuhan po namin, lahat po ng sinasacrifice po namin every trainings po namin,” Pascual shared.
In Season 86, the Lady Baby Tamaraws missed the podium, finishing fourth after being eliminated by NUNS in the stepladder semi-finals.
This season’s rematch served as redemption for the FEU-D squad. Alonzo highlighted the motivation behind their determination to win.
“Motivation ko po na bumawi po kasi since last year tinalo po kami ng NU, so sabi po namin ibabawi po namin yung seniors and gagawin po namin lahat po ng best namin,” Alonzo stated.
Lady Baby Tamaraws head coach Joanne Bunag couldn’t contain her joy following her team’s upset win against last season’s runners-up. She acknowledged the hard work her players put in, especially considering the roster turnover, with only two returning players from the previous season.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Ayon masaya, masayang masaya kasi nga diba nasabi ko na nga nung nakaraan halos lahat ng players ko bago, dalawa lang ang natira, pero yun nga tinarabaho talaga nila kaya ibibigay ko sa kanila, sa players talaga kasi after ng game namin against UP talagang desidido talaga silang manalo sa NU. Gusto talagang makabawi,” Bunag said.
Bunag also praised the team’s dedication during practice, which she credited for their performance on the court.
“From practice makikita mo na sa mga bata kung gaano sila kasipag kaya siguro yun ang naging result ng game ngayon. Nakita naman natin kung gaano sila kapursigi na manalo talaga,” she added.
The victory didn’t come without its challenges.
Some of FEU-D’s key players battled injuries during the match.
Opposite hitter Aleah Devosora had an awkward landing in the first set, while Alonzo played through lingering knee pain from a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear sustained last year.
Despite these obstacles, Lady Baby Tamaraws’ setter Sheena Cafe rose to the occasion, showcasing her maturity and embodying her school’s “Be Brave” mentality.
Her composed leadership helped the team navigate through the tough competition against the Lady Bullpups.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Lagi nalang po pinapasok sa isip ko po na kayang kaya ko po to, kasi medyo mabigat po yung kalaban namin so lahat ng mga sinasabi po ng coaches inaapply ko po sa loob ng court,” the 18-year-old playmaker reflected.
Alonzo, who had to be subbed out to manage her knee, commended her teammates for stepping up in her absence.
“Masasabi ko lang po lahat po gumawa po ng good performance and di po sila natakot, kasi since kinakabahan po sila nung una, nilabas po talaga nila lahat, ‘tas tinanggal po nila daga nila sa dibdib, naging matapang po sila like [kung] ano po yung sinasabi ng coaches nagawa po ng lahat,” Alonzo shared.
Despite their triumph, Pascual, who scored 17 points, emphasized that the Lady Baby Tamaraws remain focused on the challenges ahead.
“Hindi po kami mag-stop dito, not because nanalo po kami mag-stop na po kami, magrerelax na po kami, may mga other games pa po kami and iyon po ifo-focus namin especially mga pinaghahandaan pa po naming universities,” the 5-foot-5 open hitter assured.
