UAAP: Bakanke’s emergence fueling FEU’s second round charge

FEU Lady Tamaraws’ Faida Bakanke.–UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Faida Bakanke has found her rhythm in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament after leading Far Eastern University back to the Final Four with five consecutive victories.

Bakanke fired 11 of her 19 points in the first set as the Lady Tamaraws continued to roll with a 25-20, 27-29, 25-21, 25-21 victory over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Saturday at Philsports Arena.

The Congolese spiker, who averaged 15.3 points in six games in the second round, wanted to make up for her underwhelming round 1 performance, where she normed 9.0 points in their first seven matches.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round

“I’m very determined to make bawi (bounce back) because, in the first round, I did not play in the competition like in the V-League and Shakeys [Super League]. And in the second round, I’m always talking to coach and saying I’ll make bawi. Give me all these chances that I need,” said Bakanke, who was speaking a few Filipino words in the post-game.

Despite peaking at the right time, Bakanke is eager to do more for FEU in her first Final Four appearance in two weeks.

“I need to be like myself and trust myself, I need to believe in myself so I know I can do it,” said the opposite spiker.

READ: UAAP volleyball: Bakanke, FEU continue surge with win over UP

FEU coach Manolo Refugia was proud of Bakanke’s growth and emergence as one of the go-to scorers for the Lady Tamaraws.

“I’m proud of Faida because she struggled in the first round. But when she experienced and felt the competition, she believed in herself that she could, with the help of her teammates,” Refugia said in Filipino. “We hope to see Faida’s consistency and even surpass her performance every game.”

Bakanke and the Lady Tamaraws hope to end the elimination round on a high note when they battle the surging National University Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

 “We did a good job, and I think next game, we need to just do again [what we did] in this game,” said Bakanke.  “Coach said, we need to make bawi in the second round, and we need also to have strong confidence, we need to help each other.”