UAAP: FEU Lady Tamaraws eager to show their worth with Final Four bid

FEU Lady Tamaraws against Adamson Lady Falcons in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws are eager to prove they are no longer pushovers as they inch closer to reaching the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament Final Four.

FEU continued to boost its Final Four chances after sweeping Adamson, 25-19, 25-23, 25-23, to keep the fourth place with an improved 6-4 record on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Chenie Tagaod, who delivered 12 points and seven excellent receptions in their second consecutive victory, insisted that this current batch of Lady Tamaraws is different compared to the past two seasons.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round

“When I joined FEU, we just wanted to spoil other people’s campaigns and it didn’t matter if we won. That was us. But as the campaign went further, when coach Tina and coach [Manolo Refugia] joined, we started to get really excited to work really hard,”  said Tagaod in Filipino.

The Lady Tamaraws, who have the most UAAP women’s volleyball titles with 29, became Season 84’s cellar-dwellers in the league’s return in the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. When Tina Salak took charge last year, FEU fell short of the Final Four with a fifth-place finish in Season 85.

FEU, under rookie coach Manolo Refugia, is moving closer to its goal.

READ: Past failures push FEU Lady Tamaraws closer to UAAP Final Four

“The fruits of our labor are slowly showing, but we can’t stop working,” Tagaoid said. “Because if you really want something, you’ll find ways to get what you want.”

Now coached by Refugia, fourth-year player Jean Asis believes the Lady Tamaraws are more eager to return to the Final Four.

“We’re really determined to get back to the Final Four. We’re looking at the previous seasons as inspiration,” said Asis, who scored 10 points against Adamson.

“We’re aiming to push ourselves because we don’t just want to reach the Final four, we also want to get to the podium.”

FEU coach Manolo Refugia, Chen Tagaod, and Jean Asis share their thoughts on their straight-set win over Adamson. #UAAPSeason86 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/psazUr87bs

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 9, 2024

Although they are inching closer t joining the University of Santo Tomas, La Salle, and National University, Asis stressed the importance of consistency and trust in each other in their last four games.

“We need to be consistent and maintain our trust to our coaches and teammates because that’s where it all starts,” said Asis.

“We’re heading in the right direction but we can’t relax. Jut because we’re able to beat some schools doesn’t mean they wont be eager to get back at us.”

Tagaod and Asis are eager to get back at UST on Saturday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium as they look to bounce back from their first-round defeat, where they blew a two-set lead.

“That loss to UST really hurt us. It took me a few days to move on, but at least now we know we can take them,” Tagaod said.