Far Eastern University changed not just its game plan, but also its attitude.
Following a tough Game 1 loss, the Lady Tamaraws came out with renewed energy and a more positive mindset.
They turned things around and forced a winner-take-all Game 3 in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge Finals with a four-set victory over Adamson University last Wednesday at the City of Dasmariñas Arena.
Gerzel Petallo, one of the team’s top scorers in the tournament, believes that this shift in approach played a vital role in helping the Lady Tamaraws bounce back and showcase their true form after the series opener.
“Yung mga gestures namin, like ‘pag nagkakamali kami walang titingin, walang magsa-stop. Nakakababa kasi siya ng morale kapag lagi kaming magde-dwell doon sa mistakes,” Petallo said after their 25-13, 25-22, 15-25, 25-23 triumph over the Lady Falcons in Game 2.
“So ‘yun po ‘yung binago namin talaga, sobrang naging maganda ‘yung laro namin,” she added.
(C) V-League Images
The Lady Tamaraws also put in the work in the short turnaround between games, determined to keep their season alive after falling behind early in the series.
They spent the limited preparation time fine-tuning their execution and mindset, knowing how badly they wanted to recover and extend the best-of-three finale to a decider.
Petallo stood at the forefront of FEU’s fightback, delivering an all-around performance of 15 points on 11 attacks and four kill blocks. She also had 14 excellent receptions and 13 excellent digs as the team fended off Adamson’s late uprising to seal the win.
“Pinaghandaan po talaga kasi namin, sobrang pinaghandaan namin. Proper mindset po talaga ‘yung ginagawa namin na kayang kaya talaga. Magagawa namin ‘yung mga naging lapses namin. Talagang pinaghandaan po namin,” said the V-League Collegiate Challenge Best Outside Hitter.
“Talagang tyinaga po namin kasi gustong gusto po talaga naming manalo. We want this game para sa amin po talaga, kaya ayun proper mindset talaga before pa lang ‘yung game mag-start. Strong mentality lang po talaga, winning mentality,” she added.
Petallo and the Lady Tamaraws look to carry their momentum in the pivotal Game 3 clash on Friday, 2:00 PM at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
“Siguro po talagang tiya-tiyagain at tiya-tiyagain namin kasi hindi po talaga madali ‘yung game. I’m so happy po na nakuha namin ‘yung Game 2, pero ito na po, winner takes all eh, so ibibigay na po namin ‘yung best of the best namin.”
