For the past two seasons in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament, Far Eastern University has been the feel-good story, steadily rising to contention.
But in Season 87, returning head coach Tina Salak wants her Lady Tamaraws to move beyond that narrative.
Salak, an FEU legend from her playing days, is pushing her team to embrace the role of title contenders rather than just Final Four gatecrashers.
The Lady Tamaraws have made significant strides in recent years, climbing from an eighth-place finish (1-13) in Season 84 to fifth place (6-8) in Season 85. They then secured a Final Four spot last year with a 9-5 record, finishing fourth in Season 86.
“Malaking bagay yun for them sa maturity saka gusto ko rin mabago yung behavior nila na hindi na sila yung underdog. Iba rin kasi yung tingin nila sa sarili nila,” said Salak, who served as head coach in Season 85 and as a consultant last year.
“Gusto ko sila naman yung maging main, makita rin nila yung sarili nila na sila yung (main) character this time.”
With the Lady Tamaraws’ steady upward trajectory, Salak sees this season as a true test of their mettle.
FEU retains a solid core led by Tin Ubaldo, Chenie Tagaod, Jean Asis, Gerzel Petallo, and Faida Bakanke. Adding to their firepower is promising middle blocker Jazlyn Ellarina, who impressed in preseason tournaments and will make her UAAP debut this year.
“Mas madali yung 85 kasi no pressure eh, pero dito ko rin matetest yung sarili ko. It’s a matter of helping them and helping me, so yun yung relationship namin ngayon. Gusto ko sana na maintindihan din ng players na hindi ko binibigay sa kanila yung pressure. It’s more on me, ako yung gusto kong umako ng pressure para sa kanila,” Salak explained.
“Na-eexcite ako pero nape-pressure ako at the same time kasi yung naging result natin last year, pumasok tayo ng Final Four, hindi madali. But having the privilege na intact yung team, trabaho ko na yun,” she added.
“Gusto ko talaga ma-maximize yung time nila this year kasi we never know — baka amin ito, kunin ko na.”
FEU’s first test in Season 87 comes on opening day, as they take on the University of Santo Tomas at 3:00 PM on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
