FEU coach proud of Lady Tamaraws despite Final Four loss

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far Eastern University’s inspiring charge in the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament has ended on Wednesday as head coach Shaq Delos Santos led his Lady Tamaraws to its final bow of Season 78.

The Lady Tamaraws lost to No. 2 De La Salle University in straight-sets, 25-15, 27-25, 25-21, as they bowed out of finals contention, but Delos Santos was proud of what his players achieved as the third seed in the tournament. 

“They’re really competitive, we’re happy to get the No. 3. We did our best,” Delos Santos said in Filipino.

“Of course we’re proud of our players. We showed what we can do.” 

FEU pulled off an upset when it beat La Salle in five sets, 5-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 16-14, on Sunday that paved the way for the rubber match.

The Lady Tamaraws’ season may have ended but for Delos Santos, it’s just the beginning of something great.

“It’s really not for us but this is not the end of our journey together as a team. We’re just getting started.”

Delos Santos added they were outmatched in the experience department with La Salle a fixture in the finals as it made its eighth straight appearance in the championship round after beating a team which entered only its first Final Four tournament in five years.

“First time namin mag semis yung feeling na ganung competition, di pa nila kayang i-control,” Delos Santos said.  “Next year sana kaya na nila ma handle, mas may kumpyansa, at ma enjoy na nila.”

“This is our first time to make the semis and feel this kind of competition. They don’t know how to control such feeling yet. Next year, I hope they’ll be able to handle it and have more confidence to enjoy the game.”

“We’re happy that we didn’t give up. We’ll only get stronger.”