The FEU Lady Tamaraws are ready to prove that they more than just gatecrashers in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
When the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament began, the goal for Far Eastern University was to simply make it back to the Final Four.
But 15 games later, the Lady Tamaraws can do their initial goal better as they are now just one win away from returning to the Finals for the first time since UAAP Season 80.
To open the Final Four, FEU pulled off an incredible straight-set win over the NU Lady Bulldogs, who were undefeated in the second round of the tournament.
While many believed that the championship battle would have been any combination among DLSU, NU, and UST, FEU coach Manolo Refugia believes otherwise.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, wag nating kakalimutan na may FEU,” Refugia said.
After their stunning victory, Refugia was all praises for his team, who proved once more that they are capable of beating the title-favorites in the tournament.
“Talagang ginusto talaga namin. Pumunta kami, nag-ensayo kami, ginusto talaga nila. Naniwala sila na kaya nila, na kaya ng team, na kaya namin lahat na talunin talaga yun NU,” said Refugia.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: What will it take to beat UST, La Salle, NU? Coach Manolo Refugia sets goal for FEU in round 2]
With needing just one more win to advance to the Finals, the Lady Tamaraws will look to pull off the upset once more against the Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, May 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao at 4:00 p.m.
But as early as now, Refugia, who was brought in to lead FEU just this season, wants his players to solely remain focused on the game.
“Mataas yung emotions pero sabi nga, job’s not finished pa so kailangan pa trabahuhin, konti nalang naman eh. Sakripisyo,” said Refugia.
“‘Di kami makakalimot na tumapak parin sa lupa. Parang ‘yung feeling nasa cloud nine, so kailangan bumalik ulit and hindi pa tapos talaga so, meron pa, kaya pa, may ibubuga pa. So, ayun, laban. Laban talaga,” he emphasized.