UAAP Volleyball Preview: Lady Tamaraws eye Finals berth

FEU Lady Tamaraws. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Head coach: Shaq delos Santos

Last season: 9-5

Key losses: Gyzelle Sy

Far Eastern University almost pulled off the biggest upset of last season when it pushed De La Salle to its limit in their Final Four duel.

Unfortunately for the Lady Tamaraws, the Lady Spikers retaliated with an emphatic three-set win, 25-15, 27-25, 25-21, to make their way to the Finals where they beat Ateneo for the title.

Their failure to enter the finals only motivated head coach Shaq delos Santos to push his team further with the championship round in mind.

“We just have to give our best because last year we came up short,” said delos Santos. 

FEU was riding a five-game win streak en route to its do-or-die match against La Salle in the Final Four but the eventual champions put on an impressive 25-15, 27-25, 25-21 win to advance to the Finals.

Delos Santos’ wish to improve on what they’ve achieved in Season 78 seem to have rubbed off on his players too.

Captain Remy Palma said this could be FEU’s last chance to contend for the title, as the Lady Tamaraws will be going into Season 79 with an almost intact lineup from Season 78.

“I tell the girls to support me in my final year and that we should always give our best each game and we should always finish off our opponents the moment we get the chance,” said Palma in Filipino.

And Palma hasn’t forgotten a single thing about that stinging Final Four defeat to La Salle.

“We have that semifinals experience already and that’s what we’re bringing to this season and we’ll build on that because we’re already on that level,” said Palma.