Before the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament started, many saw the championship favorites as a two-way race between De La Salle University and National University.
Midway through the elimination round, University of Santo Tomas joined the party after starting the tournament with a pristine 8-0 record, including wins over the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Spikers.
When the Final Four lineup was complete, it consisted of NU (12-2), UST (12-2), La Salle (11-3), and Far Eastern University (9-5).
Still, nobody believed in the Lady Tamaraws, who were two games behind the third-ranked Lady Spikers. After a tough elimination round, they needed to face the top-seeded Lady Bulldogs.
On Saturday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, they believed. And they conquered.
FEU slayed the giant National U in straight sets, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23, to destroy the latter’s twice-to-beat incentive and force a do-or-die rubber match on Wednesday.
The next day, defending champions La Salle were dethroned by University of Santo Tomas in five-set fashion at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
First-year Lady Tamaraws head coach Manolo Refugia only had one thing to say to doubters after the victory.
“Masasabi ko lang huwag nating kakalimutan na may FEU,” he said with a smile.
(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
And he was not alone in that thought.
His players also carried the same mentality. Chen Tagaod led FEU with 12 points, while middle blockers Jean Asis and Mitzi Panangin also showed up with 11 and 10, respectively.
Faida Bakanke also contributed eight points, while setter Tin Ubaldo took matters into her own hands as well. She scored six points while tossing 16 excellent sets.
Ann Monares was also faultless in receptions, going 14-of-15.
“Nasa sa amin na po ‘yun kung ano ‘yung ipapakita namin, if ever man po na gano’n ‘yung iniisip ng iba, sa amin po hindi,” said Ubaldo on doubters thinking it’s only a three-way race.
“Kami pong team hindi po ganon ang iniisip namin.”
