Ahead of Far Eastern University’s Season 86 final rematch against De La Salle University, Lady Tamaraws captain Inday Tolentin remains focused on refining her finishing skills in front of the goal in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Football Tournament.
Tolentin, currently tied with La Salle’s Dani Tanjangco as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals each, netted twice in FEU’s 3-1 victory over the University of the Philippines last Saturday at the UP Diliman Football Stadium.
Despite her contributions, she admitted she doesn’t feel fully satisfied with her goalscoring output this season.
“Para sa akin, sa susunod na training, mag-fo-focus ako sa technique: kung paano ko tatamaan yung bola,” Tolentin shared.
“Yun yung kulang ko every time nasa loob na ako ng box at nasa harap na ng goal. Sana placing na lang pero hinahatawan ko pa yung bola. Mag-fo-focus ako sa training sa technique kung paano ko ibibigay yung bola sa goal talaga mismo.”
With two championships and international experience from playing with the national team, Tolentin might have easily chosen to move on and pursue her career elsewhere.
However, as FEU’s captain and a standout with Kaya-Iloilo, she chose to stay this season to help her school secure a third consecutive championship – something FEU last achieved in Season 77.
She is also grateful to have teammates who respond positively to her leadership style.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Para sa akin kasi, may goal po ako. Pangatlong beses ako bumalik sa UAAP na sana tapos na ako. Yung goal ko po kasi ay makuha yung three-peat. Hindi ako mapapagod at ipapakita ko palagi sa teammates ko na babalik ako at tutulong ako sa kanila para makuha yung three-peat na ‘yun,” she explained.
“Every start ng game sa huddle namin sa players lang inside the field, sinasabihan ko sila na kung anuman yung sasabihin ko na words na pagalit, dapat yung iintindihin nila is ano yung content at hindi paano ko dineliver yung message. Thankful ako sa mga teammate ko dahil good followers talaga sila.”
FEU’s last defeat to La Salle was on March 25, 2023, in a first-round match of Season 85 that ended in a thrilling 3-2.
Since then, the Lady Tamaraws have remained unbeaten against the Lady Booters in five games, including three wins last season.
Tolentin and her teammates aim to extend this streak against their biggest challengers as they close out the first round tomorrow.
“Sa next game namin against De La Salle, ito yung game na parang rematch sa championship. Sa amin, hindi kami pwedeng magkalma kasi, yun nga, tulad ng sinasabi ko kanina, may goal kami,” Tolentin emphasized.
“Hindi namin ibibigay lang porket alam namin na last season nanalo na kami na tatlong beses. So yung sa next game namin, mas ipapanalo pa namin para hindi namin bibigyan yung kalaban namin ng chance para matalo kami.”
