Faida Bakanke finds her footing for the FEU Lady Tamaraws as they grab their second win vs. Casiey Dongallo and the UE Lady Warriors in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament on Sunday, Feb. 25.
Rookie Faida Bakanke is slowly finding her role in Far Eastern University.
After quiet outings in the Lady Tamaraws' first two games, Bakanke broke out with 14 points on 11 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, including the game-winning cross-court kill, to help the Lady Tamaraws get past the pesky University of the East in five sets in the UAAP season 86 women's volleyball tournament on Sunday, Feb. 25.
Bakanke showed up with six points in each of FEU's first two outings against University of the Philippines and La Salle.
[RELATED STORY: UAAP: FEU negates Casiey Dongallo's 30-point explosion for UE, wins stirring five-setter]
The Congolese spiker admitted that she has been getting a lot of help from coach Manolo Refugia and her teammates in adjusting.
"I said thank you to my teammates and coaches because they give me confidence to do well," Bakanke said shortly after the Lady Tamaraws' 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11 escape against Casiey Dongallo-led Lady Warriors.
"My mindset is to just focus, to listen to what coach [Manolo] said to me. Coach said to me to ask for the ball and also, I asked for the ball," she added.
Refugia, meanwhile, shared his different approach when handling and encouraging Bakanke.
"Hindi naman siya 'yung tipo ng bata na 'pag sinigawan mo, talagang babalik agad [ang laro]," said Refugia. "Kumbaga 'yung treatment ay mahinahon, laging kakausapin dapat siya kaya siguro na-boost ulit ang confidence niya na talagang nasa isip niya lagi, 'I will make bawi, coach.'"
Bakanke poured two points in the crunch for the Lady Tamaraws as she showed iron will in the face of fellow rookie Dongallo's 30-point explosion for the Lady Warriors.
Gerzel Petallo, who topscored with 18 for FEU in its bounce-back triumph, knows how valuable Bakanke is for the team, which is why she continues to give her the support she needs.
"Hindi po namin siya pinapabayaan. Kung magka-error man siya, pinapabayaan lang 'yung mistakes na nagagawa niya kasi malaking tulong talaga si Faida sa amin," said Petallo.
Bakanke will look to improve her performance even further as the Lady Tamaraws take on University of Santo Tomas next Sunday, March 3, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay at 4:00 p.m.