Far Eastern University’s Faida Bakanke has made her mark with the Lady Tamaraws at the most opportune moment.
Bakanke led the Lady Tamaraws to a return to the women’s Final Four after two years.
For this, Bakanke earned the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Women’s Player of the Week award, presented by San Miguel Corporation for the period of April 9 to 14.
The Congolese rookie fired 13 points in the Lady Tams’ 25-19, 25-23, 25-23 triumph against Adamson last April 9.
She followed it up with arguably her best performance in the tournament, scoring 21 points, including a career-high four rejections against league-leading UST in a match that went the distance, 19-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 15-10, last April 13.
“Siyempre, nakaka-proud si Faida, ‘yung story niya rin kasi na simula last year, ‘yung pagdating niya from Congo, eh talagang mahirap para sa kanya, culture, ‘yung language barrier,” head coach Manolo Refugia said of his rookie as FEU completed the Final Four at 7-4 with still three games to go.
“Talagang mahirap pero in-embrace niya. Magaling siya, madaling maka-adapt ant ayun, nakuha niya ang system.”
Bakanke surpassed teammates Jean Asis, NU’s Vange Alinsug, DLSU’s Shevana Laput, Ateneo’s Roma Doromal, UST’s Regina Jurado, and Adamson’s Barbie Jamili for the weekly citation supported by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.
“I’m very happy that we won this game, we also respect the coaches’ system. I’m so proud of my team. I’m very happy and proud of my team since we performed well, which is most important,” said Bakanke.
