FEU Lady Tamaraws’ Tin Ubaldo. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Aside from playmaking, Far Eastern University coach Tina Salak encourages setter Tin Ubaldo to hit timely attacks, too.
Ubaldo dished out 10 excellent sets and nailed seven points to keep FEU’s Final Four hopes alive with a crucial 25-21, 25-11, 22-25, 25-21 victory over the also-ran Ateneo in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“As a (former) setter, you have to be an attacking setter. Not only (focusing) on distribution, mind game, and set play, she also needs to use her height as an advantage in attacking and blocking,” said Salak of Ubaldo in Filipino. “Sometimes she can hit it but she still sets it to others. She is so generous. But Tin has improved a lot all throughout the season.”
But the rookie coach Salak, whose team holds a 6-6 record in fifth place, believes the best is yet to come for the 5-foot-8 playmaker.
WATCH: Tina Salak on bouncing back from their loss to NU last weekend. #UAAPSeason85 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/vHvrbLSa9R
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 19, 2023
“She still has a lot to improve and she still has a lot to show. I promise you,” she added. “I give credit to her sacrifice and willingness to learn. Even though I often scold her, she doesn’t get easily tired because I always tell Tin: Whatever happens I won’t give up on you.”
The 20-year-old setter admitted that she loses patience sometimes from the tough love of the legendary volleyball player-turned-coach.
(Sometimes I get annoyed [with myself] but [coach] always tells me that I have no choice [but to listen and follow]. As the days went by, I opened myself to coach and I realized that she was right. I will continue to follow her,” said Ubaldo in Filipino.
Ubaldo added that Salak is putting a premium on patience and trusting her teammates.
FEU Lady Tamaraws celebrate much-needed win over Ateneo Blue Eagles. –UAAP PHOTO
“She always tells me to be patient and trust my teammates because I am impatient. When I get rattled during crucial moments, she is always there to remind me,” the sophomore setter said in Filipino.
“I remind Tin not to expect too much on passing because we’re not the No.1 receiving team. She has to be more patient with the capacity of the team because we’re at the bottom in receiving, to be honest,” Salak added.
Ubaldo and the Lady Tamaraws try to sweep their last two games against Final Four contenders, facing University of Santo Tomas on Sunday and Adamson on April 30.