Far Eastern University shocked National University, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23, to disarm the Lady Bulldogs of their twice-to-beat advantage in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Final Four on Saturday evening.
The Lady Tamaraws are fully aware that they need to win twice in order to fully topple the Lady Bulldogs and advance to the Finals.
Despite the sweeping victory that clearly had FEU up to cloud nine, head coach Manolo Refugia reminded his team that they need one more game.
“Mataas yung emosyon pero job’s not finished pa, so kailangan pang trabahuhin ulit. Kaunti na lang naman eh, sakripisyo pa,” said Refugia after the high-octane triumph in front of a loud crowd inside the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Hindi kami makakalimot na tumapak pa rin sa lupa. Yung feeling ay parang nasa cloud nine, so kailangan bumalik ulit and hindi pa tapos talaga eh, meron pa, kaya pa, may mabubuga pa so ayun laban. Laban talaga.”
(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
If the Lady Tamaraws win in the rubber match on Wednesday, they will make history as the first-ever fourth seed to reach the Finals since the format was institutionalized back in 2004.
But again, even the players are aware that this victory would not mean anything if they cannot finish the story.
Chenie Tagaod led FEU’s offense with 12 points alongside 10 excellent receptions. And she shared that they cannot still call themselves title contenders if they cannot reach the best-of-three finale.
“Hindi pa tapos kasi may Game 2 pa, so kailangan muna namin mas trabahuhin para ma-claim namin na talagang papasok na kami sa Finals,” said Tagaod.
The Lady Tamaraws are eyeing their first Finals appearance since Season 80 (2018) where they lost to De La Salle University in two games.
Their last championship came in Season 70 back in 2008.
