FEU is motivated to have Tina Salak back with the team.
Tina Salak, as seen on the sidelines in FEU's win over UP in UAAP season 86 women's volleyball, switches her hat to a consultant role with the Lady Tamaraws. Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Far Eastern University completed its 25-23, 25-21, 25-18 sweep of University of the Philippines in the UAAP season 86 women's volleyball Sunday with a familiar face on the sidelines.
It was Tina Salak, the Lady Tamaraws' head coach last year who steered them to a decent 6-8 finish for fifth place to improve on a solitary win production under erstwhile mentor George Pascua in season 84.
Salak returns as a consultant for FEU.
The former national team setter abruptly ended her one-year stint as the Lady Tamaraws' mentor last June as she decided to migrate to the United States after her immigrant visa application was approved.
Manolo Refugia took over the coaching reins from his fellow FEU product heading into the new season.
But despite Salak's departure from the team, she was still hands-on with the team's development, according to Refugia.
"Napaka-overwhelming 'yun [kasi] bilang isang player na ma-coach ka ng isang coach T (Tina Salak), napaka-ano (ganda) na 'yun sa feelings ng mga bata. What more kaya sa isang coach na ma-coach ka, ma-guide ka ni coach T papunta sa magandang sistema, kung ano 'yung nilu-look forward niya," Refugia said in the post-game presser.
Indeed, having Salak on the bench to give pointers to the players proved to be a big help for key holdovers Tin Ubaldo and Gerzel Petallo.
Petallo led FEU against UP with 16 points while Ubaldo came through with 14 excellent sets.