FEU Lady Tamaraws’ Chenie Tagaod and Jovelyn Fernandez. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — After Far Eastern University’s disappointing season ended with a heartbreaking loss to University of the East last year, Chenie Tagaod and Jovelyn Fernandez made sure to take care of business this time.
When the Lady Tamaraws failed to complete the win in the fourth, Tagaod and Fernandez caught fire in the fifth and combined for seven points to complete a 25-19, 18-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-5 victory for FEU Wednesday in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament at FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Tagaod, who uncorked a career-high 23 points, stressed to them how she did not want to experience another loss to UE before the start of the fifth set.
“We had our chance to end the game in the fourth set. It was our goal to end it but we squandered our momentum,” said Tagaod in Filipino after tallying 18 attacks, three blocks, and two aces.
“I told them that I don’t want to experience what happened to us last season. I know that we can [win] we just needed an extra push,” she added.
Fernandez, who chipped in 17 attacks and five blocks to finish with 22 points on top of 13 digs, also said the victory comes at a perfect time in terms of the team morale.
“We don’t want to lose because our defeat [to UE] last season was so painful. We proved that we can,” she said. “The whole team is happy with this win because we were down after losing to La Salle last game.”
FEU Lady Tamaraws’ Chenie Tagaod. –PVL PHOTO
Aside from getting back on UE, Tagaod also wanted to prove her worth after starting sluggishly in the first five games with an average of 8.4 points — a scoring dip from her rookie season last year where scored a total of 152 points and emerged as the Lady Tamaraws’ leading scorer and league’s top 11.
“In the past games, my coaches told me that my presence wasn’t felt. So I reflected on the reason why my coaches trust me and why they allow me to play. They are very supportive of us and they are not giving up,” she said in Filipino.
Her breakout game helped boost FEU’s Final Four chances with an improved 3-3 record, which exceeded the expectations of coach Tina Salak.
Salak hopes his team will continue to surpass the goal she set for the team, believing that nothing is impossible this season.
FEU wraps up its first-round campaign against defending champion National University on Saturday at the same venue in San Juan City.
WATCH: Chen Tagaod and Jov Fernandez on beating UE.
Watch til the end. #UAAPSeason85 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/HTSpJOlFud
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 15, 2023