By Fibby Ann Mercado

Now named team captain, Gerzel Petallo intends to take charge by serving as a role model to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tourney.

Standing at five-foot-five, Petallo’s offensive strides proved vital in helping the green-and-gold squad establish themselves as a serious contender last season. 

Taking over the role of Tin Ubaldo, the Lady Tamaraw steps up to the new responsibility of guiding the team into a new chapter.

In an online interview with FEU Advocate, the outside hitter shared how being a captain means demonstrating selflessness and being in charge of the team.

“It would [mostly] be being accountable to everyone. Because as a captain, I also need to motivate and support my teammates all the time. I [also] see my role as someone who leads by example by showing discipline, good work ethic, and [as well as being] a leader to myself,” she said. 

Petallo also emphasized the importance of having a sense of personal accountability, noting that this approach has been a fundamental part of their system as a team. 

“For what I have experienced all throughout our years in playing here, while representing the school, it's all about us. ‘Yung magiging captain kami sa sarili namin. Like, hindi ‘yung hindi lang ako ‘yung captain sa team. Kailangan din na maging captain din ‘yung mga players on themselves (From everything I have experienced throughout our years playing here and representing the school, it is all about us, with each of us being our own captain. I am not the only captain on the team. The players also need to be captains of themselves),” she shared. 

As they gear up for the season ahead, the Morayta-based volleybelle expressed her plan to approach the season one game at a time.

“Instead na parang mag-focus kami na ‘kailangan namin makuha ‘yung Final Four, kailangan namin makuha ‘yung Finals,’ ‘yung una po namin gagawin is isa-isahin. Step by step, para makuha po namin ulit ‘yung Final Four and then ‘yung goal po talaga namin na mag-Finals appearance (Instead of focusing on ‘we have to reach the Final Four, we have to make the Finals,’ our first step is to take things one at a time, step by step, so we can get back to the Final Four and ultimately achieve our goal of making a Finals appearance),” she added.

Petallo and the green-and-gold squad ended their Season 87 run as the fourth seed, after falling to defending champions National University in the semifinals. 

As the season draws near, the Lady Tamaraws are set to headline the Season 88 Valentine’s opener against De La Salle University on Saturday, February 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
(Photo by Zedrich Xylak Madrid/FEU Advocate)