Taking a leap of faith from National University Nazareth School to Far Eastern University was a no-brainer for rookie setter Karyll Miranda, especially with the opportunity to learn from two of the best in the game — Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak and team captain Tin Ubaldo.
While FEU’s stellar start in UAAP Season 87 has largely been credited to Salak’s leadership and Ubaldo’s orchestration — averaging 4.06 excellent sets per frame — Miranda finally had her breakthrough moment in her eighth game of the tournament.
Salak, noticing Ubaldo struggling in the opening set, made a crucial adjustment by inserting Miranda in the next two frames — a decision that paid off.
“Play with pressure lang talaga ginawa ko. Yung pressure kasi nandiyan na lang talaga siya ‘eh, ikaw na yung gagawa ng paraan kung paano siya i-overcome talaga,” Miranda said.
Shaking off early nerves, Miranda dished out 17 excellent sets, enabling three Lady Tamaraws to score at least 15 points each. Her performance propelled FEU to a dominant 25-20, 25-20, 25-23 sweep of the University of the East, securing its second consecutive win and climbing to solo second in the standings with a 6-3 record.
From Jhocson to Morayta, Miranda’s journey has been one of growth — from an unpolished setter entering the Lady Tamaraws’ camp to now learning from a current star playmaker in Ubaldo and a legendary orchestrator in Salak.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Big opportunity kasi minsan lang din makapaglaro sa ganitong event. Looking forward na mas mag-perform pa kaming lahat sa susunod na games, kasi nag-eensayo kami nang well-prepared and yung other teams din,” the 19-year-old setter shared.
“Happy kasi marami ako natututunan sa kanila every training at every game. Parang looking forward na mas matuto pa ako sa kanilang dalawa kasi sabi rin ni coach Tina sa aming dalawang setter na kami yung magdadala ng buong team. Habang may time pa, lagi kami nagtutulungan ni Ate Tin kung ano dapat gawin.”
No one could be prouder than Salak, who witnessed Miranda seize the rare opportunity that came her way during Ubaldo’s off-night.
“Every game, sinasabihan ko sila na may opportunity sila maglaro kasi respeto ‘yon sa kalaban namin. It’s up to them kung magde-deliver sila or hindi. But yung opportunity, every time na may opportunity, huwag niyo imi-miss. Galing ‘ah! Yung consistency, na-gain niya yung momentum niya at na-motivate siya. May confidence na kaya pala niya magdala ng team,” Salak shared.
The veteran mentor emphasized that the confidence Miranda built in this game will be crucial — not just for the rest of Season 87, but especially in FEU’s upcoming showdown against defending champion National University on Sunday, March 30, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
In that match, Miranda will go head-to-head with two-time UAAP champion and Season 84 Best Setter Lams Lamina, marking the biggest challenge of her young collegiate career.
“Tignan natin against NU. ‘Yon yung mga challenges. Malaki yung challenge na binibigay ko sa mga setters. Hindi lang porket second setter siya, meron pa rin siyang role, malaki yung role nila,” Salak explained.
“Malaki rin yung responsibility nila sa team and hindi ko inaalis ‘yon sa kanila. Medyo strict ako sa kanilang dalawa so lahat ng overloads, technicals, accessories, at even in-game at in training scrimmages, nakatutok ako sa kanila.”
#WATCH: FEU head coach Tina Salak says no one can take UE lightly, and the Lady Tamaraws made sure of that 🏐
📹 @ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/SH0mR8GLEz
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 26, 2025
