There are moments when Far Eastern University needs a hero to step up — and for the last two outings, head coach Tina Salak knows exactly who to trust when the pressure mounts and the outcome hangs in the balance.
In these clutch situations, Salak has consistently turned to off-the-bench sparkplug Lovely Lopez, who has guided the Lady Tamaraws to back-to-back victories in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
In a four-set triumph against Adamson University last Sunday, Lopez proved decisive. She scored four of the final five points — including the game-winning crosscourt hit — to secure FEU’s second win of the season.
Later, when FEU trailed 17-22 in the third set against winless Ateneo de Manila University, Lopez once again showed why she is the Lady Tamaraws’ clutch queen. She scored five points in a 9-2 run — including the last three points of an extended third frame — to give the team its first winning streak of Season 88.
For Salak, these performances reflect Lopez’s readiness, whether she starts or comes off the bench to complement players like Faida Bakanke and Gerz Petallo.
“Ang role naman ni Lovely, hindi lang pang-off-the-bench. Binibigyan din namin sila ng pagkakataon na ma-experience na sila yung starters,” Salak said after the game Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“Very reliable siya in terms of kailangan naming pumuntos or kailangan namin ng service niya, nandiyan siya. Yung good thing lang ay hindi nagbabago yung mindset niya — off-the-bench man siya, siya yung harap, or whatsoever,” she added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For the 5-foot-8 outside hitter, the clutch moments are less about pressure and more about enjoying the game while giving FEU a confidence boost when morale dips.
That joy on the court has translated into performance. Lopez fired six crucial points against the Lady Falcons, then contributed an all-around stat line of eight points on four attacks and four blocks, along with three excellent digs and three excellent receptions, against the struggling Blue Eagles.
“For me, happy lang ako naglalaro and ine-enjoy ko lang yung every moment na nasa loob ako ng court,” the sophomore spiker from FEU-Diliman said.
“Siguro po yung personality ko ano… May times na ano lang, poker face, ta’s wala, paiba-iba po kasi may time na poker face, may time na happy,” she added.
But Lopez’s efforts were not in isolation. Her clutch play is a reflection of the teamwork and resilience the Lady Tamaraws have shown over their last two games.
In the gutsy win against Adamson, Faida Bakanke and Alyzza Devosora provided crucial support down the stretch. Meanwhile, Lopez teamed up with middle blocker Jaz Ellarina — who contributed four points in that 9-2 run — to help FEU sweep Ateneo today.
“Actually, may mga times na nakikita natin yung character ng mga players natin ‘pag behind ng three points or five points. Ako, normal na [sa akin] na nakikita ‘yon sa kanila. Kung paano sila mag-respond, doon ako nagiging happy kasi meaning no’n ay nagi-improve sila from where we were before,” Salak explained.
“’Pag lamang na ng lima dati, ayaw na lumaban or parang nawawalan na ng pag-asa. Thankful ako kasi na-overcome na. Going into another game na sabihin nating mas mabigat, yung character ay nate-test sa ganitong bagay. Pero umaasa ako kasi nagawa na namin before, at umaasa ako na maging consistent sa ganong part ng game.”
