Far Eastern University can breathe a sigh of relief as no surgery is needed for the minor right shoulder injury of team captain Gerz Petallo in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
Petallo sustained the injury following a collision with libero Marga Encarnacion at the 16-15 mark of the Lady Tamaraws’ straight-sets loss to the UST Golden Tigresses last Saturday, March 14, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
However, after FEU swiftly returned to the win column with a sweep of the University of the East — a game the 22-year-old wing spiker sat out — third-year head coach Tina Salak revealed that no surgery is required.
The Lady Tamaraws are now targeting her return for a crucial second-round match-up against the NU Lady Bulldogs this Sunday.
“Update, actually ano naman — no surgery. Pinakamagandang ano doon, yung word na no surgery, happy na kami don. But yung recovery, siyempre, hindi pa natin alam. But we’re targeting at least sa NU game, but no pressure with Gerzel of course,” Salak said postgame Wednesday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Pasay.
“Nasa kanya naman yun kung paano niya iha-handle yung situation ngayon, yung injuries niya and also yung development. Yung progress ng development ng kanyang injury. But targeting NU.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
With Petallo’s potential return set for Sunday, Salak emphasized that every game this second round will be approached with an all-out, all-heart mindset as FEU seeks to climb the tight standings of the eight-team field.
After their win over the Lady Warriors, the Lady Tamaraws improved to solo third with a 5-3 win-loss record. They surpass the idle UST Golden Tigresses and the Adamson Lady Falcons, who are tied for fourth at 4-3.
Even with Petallo sidelined, FEU will rely on its deep spiker rotation of Alyzza Devosora, Lovely Lopez, and Faida Bakanke in seeking revenge for its reverse-sweep loss against NU in the first round last February 21.
“With NU game sa first round, no looking back na nga. But yung second round kasi, ‘yon yung tinitignan namin na this is our last game,” Salak shared.
“Every game is our last game. Para lahat all out na at para wala na kaming regrets on how namin siya gagawin. But yung mindset namin this second round ay all games ay our last games. Best effort lahat sa NU game, best lahat gagawin namin,” she went on.
“May mga adjustments din kami sa middles namin. Iba-iba yung role namin at yung story ng team. Kung maiintindihan niyo kung bakit namin ginagawa ito, kasi kami ang nakakaalam. Focus namin is always a win. Kung magkaroon ‘man kami ng malaking adjustments, ibibigay ko sa mga bata dahil in-adapt nila yung adjustments namin, binigay nila yung sarili nila doon adjustments namin, and everything they did, they did with their heart this second round.”
#WATCH: NO SURGERY NEEDED 🐃
Tina Salak and FEU are targeting a Sunday return for Gerz Petallo 🏐#ReadMore here 👉 https://t.co/GNks8cYoNC
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times #UAAPSeason88 pic.twitter.com/WHQgDqxmn8
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 18, 2026
