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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Manolo Refugia expresses confidence on Lady Tamaraws lineup

Manolo Refugia expresses confidence on Lady Tamaraws lineup

Published Feb 15, 2024 06:51 am

At A Glance

  • FEU is looking for a winning start against an equally promising University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons under their new head coach Oliver Almadro on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

What matters most for Far Eastern University head coach Manolo Refugia is his unwavering faith as the Lady Tamaraws open the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament this weekend. 

FEU is looking for a winning start against an equally promising University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons under their new head coach Oliver Almadro on Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

The young mentor was tasked to take over for veteran Tina Salak, who abruptly ended her coaching stint last June to migrate to the United States. 

In her brief time with the Lady Tamaraws, Salak helped the squad come out of their two-season slump that led to a fifth-place finish last year, good enough to even vie for a Final Four spot at some point during the elimination round. 

Refugia then took over as the interim head coach in FEU’s offseason venture that saw them capture bronze and silver medals in the 2023 SSL Collegiate Pre-Season Championship and 2023 V-League Collegiate Challenge, respectively. On top of the Lady Tamaraws’ training in Thailand.

“Ang masasabi ko naman, UAAP ready naman kami. Siyempre ‘yung mga napagdaanan o experiences namin nung offseason. Tapos ‘yung paghahanda namin going dito sa UAAP. So, ramdam naman naming ready kami,” said Refugia. 

Refugia is no stranger to a winning culture as he was part of the FEU men’s volleyball team’s championship victory in Season 74 with now fellow head coach George Pascua.

With the squad’s offseason success and preparations, Refugia is hoping for a promising turnaround under his watch. 

“Ang challenge sa amin siyempre kailangan namin higitan kung ano ‘yung ginawa namin last year. So ang magiging challenge ay kung paano magiging consistent sa preparation at kung sino ang makakalaban,” he said. 

“Siguro kung may adjustment man, maliit lang. Kasi lahat naman ng players nagagamit. ‘Yung magiging factor lang siguro is ‘yung pag alis ng iilan sa mga players. Pero na-handle naman namin ‘yung ganung bagay as a team or group.”

After losing outside hitter Jov Fernancez and recently libero Maxine Juangco to the pros, FEU remained upbeat with its rotation following the addition of debuting opposite hitter Faida Bakanke from Congo, someone the team is confident could help them get to their projected place — the Final Four. 

“Kung may magtatanong anong bago sa amin this season, ‘yung bago is addition ni Faida (Bakanke) talaga. Sobrang laki ng pagbabago kasi hindi lang sa skills inside the court pati ‘yung mentality, emotions niya,” said third year setter Tin Ubaldo. 

Related Tags

UAAP Season 86 FEU Lady Tamaraws
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