Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Far Eastern University is ready to surpass runner-up finish from a season ago.
The Lady Tamaraws finised runners-up in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament after losing to De La Salle in the finals but they’re gearing up to be a better group once Season 81 rolls in.
Season 80’s Best Middle Blocker Celine Domingo said the team’s mentality is to be better in 2019 despite losing star hitter Bernadeth Pons who’ve graduated from FEU in 2018.
“Our mindset is to be stronger this season but we’re not thinking to get to the championship game immediately because that was last year, this is a new season for us,” said Domingo during the team’s practice Wednesday at FEU.
“We have rookies that are new to the team so our game is to take it a game at a time.”
The Lady Tamaraws finished the eliminations with a 10-4 record, the second-best behind the Lady Spikers’ 12-2 card, and it was mostly through Pons who averaged 15.4 points a game.
Pons was the undisputed offensive leader of the team while the rest of the Lady Tamaraws played in a support role but Domingo is adamant that FEU is ready for life without its former talisman.
“Pons leaving the team was a big blow for sure but we’re taking it as a challenge on how we will perform without her,” said Domingo. “We just have to be stronger.”