Against a school long considered a bogey team, Far Eastern University finally got the monkey off its back, stunning De La Salle University in four sets to close the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament elimination round on a high note, Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Leading the charge in the media room were Gerz Petallo, Tin Ubaldo, and Lovely Lopez — along with an ecstatic coach Tina Salak — who steered the Lady Tamaraws to their first win against the Lady Spikers since Season 81 on April 28, 2019.
Just when it seemed like La Salle could mount another comeback in the fourth set, FEU dug deep and sealed the victory, proving it could finally overcome the 12-time UAAP champions.
“Very light kasi ang feeling namin ngayon,” said Salak. “Yung pressure hinahayaan namin na nandiyan lang kasi di naman yan maaalis. Sinabi ko kanina sa dugout na i-enjoy natin yung last game ng eliminations na kailangan manalo at kung paano natin ice-celebrate yung win, kayo ang mag-translate nun sa laro.
“Walang pressure. Walang masyadong mabigat na feeling namin na kailangan ito yung gawin mo o hindi. Kailangan i-enjoy lang yung laro. Definitely, I’m very proud sa mga bata. Hindi din naging madali yung week namin kasi nag-struggle talaga kami a week before this one, and then itong dumaan na week, madami kaming pinagdaanan,” the FEU legend continued.
“Marami din kaming na-realize dun sa mga nangyayari and also dun sa mga losses na minsan kailangan talagang balik-balikan para matuto. Ito yung time namin makabalik para makabawi sa lahat ng mga losses namin sa games namin before.”
For Salak, bringing her alma mater back to the semifinals is a major milestone, especially considering that it was Manolo Refugia who led the Lady Tamaraws in Season 86. She credited her predecessor and the rest of the staff for a smooth off-season transition, which set the foundation for FEU’s successful campaign.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Before naman mabigay sa akin yung position as head coach, ang laki kaagad ng expectation and pressure because of what Coach Nols did in Season 86,” she said. “Mahirap yun for me kasi dumating ako sa team na ito — although technically nasa team naman ako — but nag-ho-hold lang ako ng practice middle of last year lang eh.
“Parang walang seven-month period yung preparation namin dito, but thankful ako dun sa coaching staff, especially kay Coach Nols na tinulungan niya ako maka-recover at nagbigay siya ng mga insights sa ginawa niya last season at nagkaroon kami ng magandang relationship ng mga bata. Dun kami nag-start sa pag-build ng magandang foundation going to this goal.”
FEU, the winningest program in UAAP women’s volleyball with 29 titles, last entered the finals back in Season 80. The pressure has always been immense for whoever leads the Lady Tamaraws, especially since their last championship came in Season 70.
Now, standing in their way is defending champion National University, which FEU must beat twice to reach the finals. Ending the eliminations strong is one thing; competing at an even higher level in the Final Four is another.
If Salak told her players to enjoy the La Salle match, the next mission requires a much sharper edge. The Lady Tamaraws are ready for the challenge.
“Talagang mas double effort pa yung gagawin namin kasi po champion team sila at hindi po nila ibibigay yung game. Kailangang paghirapan at ipag-training talaga,” said Petallo, who led FEU with 19 points, 11 excellent receptions, and eight excellent digs.
“Same lang sa sinabi ni Gerz, NU champion team na kahit down sila ng ilang points, down sila ng ilang set, kayang-kaya nila bumalik kasi composed sila lalo na dahil sa leader (Michaela Belen) nila. Kaya niyang dalhin yung team nila,” added Ubaldo, who finished with 22 excellent sets.
“Siyempre, hindi lang kami aasa na ibibigay nila yung game kaya kailangan doble o triple effort sa side namin. Katulad ng sinabi ko kanina, hindi madali sa Final Four. Kaya kung kaya, triplehin yung effort at triplehin ang trabaho.”
#WATCH: FEU head coach Tina Salak, along with Tin Ubaldo, Gerzel Petallo, and Lovely Lopez, relive the magical moment after stunning La Salle 🏐
📹 Nicole Parallag/Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/M1sAnaeyaD
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 26, 2025
