By Aine Peralta

While the green-and-gold squad’s roster is not short of experience, Faida Bakanke is ready to step into a defining role for the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws—evolving from a dependable scorer into a steady, vocal leader as she looks to fill the void that will soon be left by the team’s graduating seniors.

“So now, I’m in my fourth year. This is the time I need to shine, because I know my ates will go.  It is I who will stay here with them,” she shared in the post-game conference of their win against University of the East last Wednesday.

As the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament opened its second round, Bakanke rose to the occasion with a Player of the Game performance, delivering a well-rounded outing of 14 points on 12 attacks and two blocks, while also making her presence felt on the defensive end with five excellent digs.

Yet beyond the stat sheet, it is Bakanke’s growing command on the floor that is beginning to define her upcoming transition into her fourth year.

Anchor on the court

With team captain Gerzel Petallo temporarily out of the rotation, the responsibility of keeping the team composed—especially its younger players—has shifted onto Bakanke’s shoulders, a challenge she is embracing with both urgency and maturity.

Even FEU head coach Tina Salak has long waited for the soft-spoken standout to claim her space, emphasizing that for the Lady Tamaraws to succeed, she must be more than just a scorer. As Salak put it: “it’s about time.”

Bakanke has taken the challenge to heart, realizing that ‘shining’ extends beyond the stat sheet. For her, leadership now lives in the small moments: calling out plays, lifting teammates after errors, and anchoring the group when the pressure mounts.

“First, I try to call out, and I try to motivate each of my teammates inside the court. I think this [thing] is very important to us. If you see someone who can't move on from her error or something she committed inside the court, you should be there to motivate her. It is not about being her ate, but you're still inside, so we are the same,” she explained.

This shift in her role mirrors a broader team identity anchored on connection and trust. Despite the mounting pressure of a tight Final Four race and the constant adjustments in their rotation, Bakanke emphasized that the green-and-gold squad continues to draw strength from a shared sense of purpose.

“Everything we are doing right now is with love. So we make love with everything we're trying to do, we also add determination and motivation—motivation coming from the coaches and teammates,” the Congolese opposite hitter said.

Rooted in Congo, but Pinoy at heart

Bakanke’s growth into an FEU standout was a deliberate process. Since joining the squad, the foreign student athlete (FSA) has balanced high expectations with the nuances of a new country—learning the fast-paced ‘Pinoy’ style of play and life in Manila from the ground up.

Learning the culture was just as important as mastering the system. With FSAs often expected to deliver immediate results, Bakanke admitted that she ‘took her time,’ highlighting a patient transition from a quiet newcomer to a core pillar of the Tamaraw team.

“I take my time. I did not put pressure on myself, I’m like [a] Filipino, the way I talk. So it is easy for me to adjust to everything here in the Philippines,” she expressed.

By choosing to fully immerse herself rather than just participate, the Congolese Tamaraw finally found the footing necessary to lead. 

As the Morayta-based squad heads into the second round, they aren’t just relying on her scoring or defensive hustle—they are leaning on a voice she has finally made her own, one that grows more certain with every point scored for the green-and-gold team.

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)