Tin Ubaldo is ready to close the chapter on a decorated five-year run at Far Eastern University, as she sets her sights on the professional stage and prepares for the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft.
In her final year with the program, Ubaldo finished as the fourth-best setter at the end of the elimination round, averaging 3.96 excellent sets per set.
“Ay, wala na akong choice. Opo, papasok ako sa PBA Draft, joke,” she quipped after FEU’s four-set defeat to UST that ended their UAAP Season 88 campaign.
From a one-win rookie season in UAAP Season 84, Ubaldo became a key figure in FEU’s resurgence amid a highly competitive landscape featuring De La Salle University, National University, and University of Santo Tomas.
The team narrowly missed the Final Four in Season 85 with a fifth-place finish and a 6–8 record. But the 5-foot-8 playmaker helped steer the Lady Tamaraws to back-to-back Final Four appearances in Seasons 86 and 87.
However, in her final campaign, Ubaldo and FEU fell short of a stepladder berth in UAAP Season 88 — a group composed of unbeaten La Salle, NU, Adamson University, and UST.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Still, she took pride in how the Lady Tamaraws fought until the end of their Season 88 journey, highlighting the discipline that shaped both her growth and that of teammates Gerz Petallo, Congolese spiker Faida Bakanke, and Jaz Ellarina.
“Yung lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila ay yung discipline talaga. Hindi lang sa loob ng court, pati sa labas. Kung ano yung agenda or alam niyo yon, kung paano kayo sa everyday. Yon kasi yung importante pag athlete ka, inside and outside the court,” she explained.
Ubaldo was also quick to express gratitude for head coach Tina Salak, who led FEU in Seasons 85 and 87, along with the rest of the coaching staff.
For the 23-year-old setter, the mentorship of a decorated playmaker like Salak is expected to be a major asset as she transitions to the professional ranks in a PVL landscape featuring elite setters such as Creamline’s Jia de Guzman and Cignal’s Gel Cayuna, among others.
“Very grateful sa lahat naman ng mga coaches. Sila naman yung nagtutulong para tulungan at i-guide kami. Super happy at grateful ako na sila yung nag-guide sa’kin, pati si Coach Manolo [Refugia],” Ubaldo expressed.
“Yung character talaga na na-build sa akin sa FEU. Mula first year hanggang fifth year, na-develop ko talaga yung iba’t ibang positive na character tsaka attitude towards sa sarili at towards sa kasama.”
