FEU Lady Tamaraws.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University coach Manolo Refugia seeks more consistency from the Lady Tamaraws heading to the second round after keeping their Final Four hopes on track as the solo No.4 seed in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
FEU tallied a season-high 15 blocks to take down Ateneo, 25-22, 22-25, 25-13, 25-21, and grab the solo fourth seed with a 4-3 record to end the first round on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Refugia was pleased with the Lady Tamaraws’ Round 1 stint as they only lost to the top three squads led by the unbeaten University of Santo Tomas, which swept the seven-game first round, followed by defending champion La Salle (6-1) and runner-up National University (5-2).
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball first round
“Sa tingin ko, mas kailangan namin maging consistent dun sa ginagawa namin. Knowing na yung tatlong talo namin, parang naramdaman nila na kaya namin lumaban pala. So nakita nila, nafeel nila, naramdaman nila kung paano kalaban yung nasa Top 3, or yung dating nasa Final Four,” said the rookie coach. “Itong magiging preparation siguro sa second round is yung habulin yung mga dapat habulin na skills para mapagaralan namin yung mga tatlong yun.”
Although they surpassed their three-win first-round finish last year, Refugia stressed that his wards can’t let their guards down against other teams.
FEU coach Manolo Refugia.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“Hindi pupwede na pabayaan parin yung ibang teams. Mabigat sa second round hindi natin alam kung lahat ba eh papataas o meron bang pababa so kailangan maging ready sa lahat so baunin yung mga dapat baunin na bala namin,” Refugia said.
FEU setter Tin Ubaldo said they have to manage their emotions to reach their goal of ending a five-year Final Four drought.
“We’re confident pero not too confident kasi maglalaban-laban pa ulit lahat at bilog pa rin ‘yung bola. Hindi pa rin kami ‘yung sure sa number four,” said Ubaldo, who had 15 excellent sets on top of six points. “‘Yung confidence namin nandun pero more on ‘yung kailangan naming gawin sa training.”
“Hindi po kami nagmamadali. More on iniisip pa po namin kung paano po namin ma-lelevel up ‘yung game namin sa second round kasi hindi pa naman po tapos,” she added.
Chenie Tagaod, who led the way for FEU against Ateneo with 18 points, 13 excellent receptions, and 10 digs, vows to work harder in the second round to bring back her school to the Final Four for the first time since Season 81 in 2019.
“Kailangang pagtrabahuan lahat — from service to attack, blockings namin, depensa namin, receptions namin. Winowork namin siya and ngayon, nakikita naman kung ano ‘yung kinakalabasan and nag-pprogress kami araw-araw,” Tagaod said.