From a one-win Season 84 to being one win away from the Season 86 Finals, Far Eastern University has truly resurrected its winning culture in UAAP women’s volleyball.
Their season fell short after the NU Lady Bulldogs retaliated with a dominant 25-13, 27-25, 25-15 win in the rubber match.
Still, the Lady Tamaraws depart this season with heads held high.
After all, they have successfully returned FEU to its rightful place among the best teams in the UAAP after lagging in the standings for the past two seasons.
“Malungkot, pero yung brighter side pa rin yung titingnan namin – yung run from Season 84, 85 na- fifth, ngayon fourth. Yun na lang yung titignan namin,” said FEU setter Tin Ubaldo after the end of their campaign on Wednesday.
“Isipin niyo yung Season 84 namin isang panalo, tapos ngayon makikita naman kung gaano nag-improve yung team. And hopefully by next year – hindi man ngayon – dadating at dadating tayo sa oras na yun,” said Chen Tagaod.
(C) Nicks Hernandez/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
It was a disastrous performance for the Lady Tamaraws when the league resumed after a hiatus due to the pandemic.
They ended that season at 1-13.
FEU legend Tina Salak was tapped to handle the team in Season 85 and instantaneously produced better results, rising to fifth with a 6-8 record.
She then transitioned to a consultant role and promoted Manolo Refugia to head coach. This time, they returned to the Final Four with a 9-5 record at fourth.
And with their return to glory came the reignited spirit of their fans who flocked to the stadiums to support both the Lady Tamaraws and the men’s team.
“Simula Season 84, kapag lilingon ka sa crowd, five, seven lang yung manonood sa amin. Season 85 sakto lang, pero ngayon kahit kami nagulat [na] sobrang daming nanonood sa amin,” said Ubaldo, as in their final game of the season against NU, 13,054 fans crowded the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Thankful ako sa kanila kasi nga from Season 84, makikita mo yung crowd pa isa-isa lang. Sobrang liit. Tapos ngayon nakikita namin na kahit pa man marami kaming pagkukulang, alam naming nandiyan sila para sa amin and sobrang thankful talaga kasi nga hindi nila kami sinukuan,” added Tagaod.
