After a long layoff, Far Eastern University finally got back on the court as they played their first game of Season 84 against University of Santo Tomas.
However, things are a bit different for head coach George Pascua as he is armed with a rebuilding squad filled with new faces this time around.
One of the remaining veterans of the team is third-year spiker Lycha Ebon who led the Lady Tamaraws with nine points and six excellent digs along with two service aces. Her production, however, went for naught as FEU absorbed a straight-set defeat to UST, 23-25, 20-25, 21-25.
Despite absorbing a lopsided loss, Ebon was still glad to see the fight and resilience put up by her young teammates in their first game of the season.
“Masaya po na nakabalik na kami, lalo na kami na ‘yung senior agad-agad,” she shared. “Masaya din po ako sa mga kasama ko dahil hanggang dulo po lumaban po sila. ‘Di po nila pinakita na ‘di nila kaya parang nakikita mo pa rin sa kanila na gusto nilang manalo.
“Madami kaming natutunan sa larong ito para makapag-adjust then sa next game alam na po namin ‘yung gagawin namin.”
The Lady Tamaraws may be young but they showed determination and eagerness to compete in their opening tilt against the more experienced Growling Tigresses. They managed to hold their ground in the first set which ended on a tightly contested 23-25 decision. In the third set, FEU still refused to go down after trimming the deficit down to four, 18-22, before UST put the finishing touches in the game to get the win via sweep.
This season, Ebon is already tasked to be one of the leaders of the team despite not getting to play that many games in her UAAP career thus far.
The Davao native saw an abrupt end to her rookie season after suffering an ACL tear back in April 2019. She suited up again for FEU in Season 82 but only appeared in two games before the tournament was put on hold at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now in her third season, Ebon is currently playing without her senior teammates Gel Cayuna, Jeanette Villareal, Czarina Carandang, Budding Duremdes, and Ivana Agudo who all decided to turn pro after more than two years of not having competitive volleyball action at the collegiate level.
As one of the leaders of this young FEU squad, Ebon is fully embracing the leadership role as she tries to steer the Lady Tamaraws through their Season 84 campaign.
“Andiyan pa naman sila coach para i-guide po kaming mga seniors, ‘di naman po nila kami pinapabayaan,” she claimed. “Nag-uusap usap lang po kami na kailangan naming ma-lead ‘yung team ng tama — nang may matutunan din ‘yung mga bata sa amin na maganda.
“Kailangan din namin tanggapin na ambilis ng panahon kaya kailangan naming mag-step up from rookie to senior.”
Ebon also shared that she needs to set an example to her younger teammates, especially as the Lady Tamaraws try to grow and mature together as a team this season.
“Maturity pa po sa loob ng court pero para magawa namin ‘yun dapat disiplinado rin kami sa labas ng court kasi mag-rereflect po lahat ng ginagawa namin sa loob ng court,” she continued.
“Titibayin ko pa po ‘yung loob ko maging isang role model para sa mga bata kasi alam kong ako ‘yung huhugutan nila ng lakas sa loob ng court.”
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