By Dwyane Harry L. Cabrera 

With a few key players suffering from injuries heading into the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball tourney, Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak set priority to the team’s health above all. 

Team captain Gerzel Petallo, who sustained a shoulder injury after colliding with teammate Margarett Encarnacion during their match against University of Santo Tomas, was seen sidelined in their game against University of the East yesterday. 

While Salak was relieved that Petallo will not be needing surgery, the green-and-gold spiker's return remains uncertain.

For the FEU-Akari head coach, dealing with injuries has been a constant struggle, especially since some happen unexpectedly and affect the team’s flow. Still, their focus remains the same, making sure every player stays healthy, not just for the next game, but for the rest of the season.

“Medyo malaki na rin ‘yung nangyayari na [injuries]sa amin… ‘yung injuries kasi nag-occur na hindi namin nalalaman. But basically gusto namin maging healthy pa rin yung players going to any game, going to another game para magkaroon pa rin kami ng direction (It’s something significant that’s been happening to us, not really in that sense, but the injuries have been occurring without us really noticing. Basically, we just want our players to stay healthy heading into every game so we can still maintain our direction),” she stated in the said match’s post-game conference.

However, behind the Lady Tamaraws’ campaign lies a challenge that does not always show on the scoreboard, one marked by injuries, recovery timelines, and difficult decisions that test both depth and discipline.

“Once na hindi na kami namo-motivate sa mga injuries kasi ‘yon ang unang-una nating kalaban, still, kailangan muna namin alagaan ang bawat isa (Once we are no longer motivated because of injuries, since they are our very first opponent, we still need to take care of each other first),” she said.

With Petallo set aside, Salak noted that the team has been forced to make adjustments, embracing a setup that requires everyone to step up and contribute. 

As they deal with the uncertainty of her return, the Morayta-based volleybelles continue to find ways to stay cohesive and comfortable within their evolving roles.

For the green-and-gold head coach, player welfare is vital in keeping the FEU Lady Tamaraws strong and united. Despite injuries, the team continues to grind out key performances and remain in the hunt for a Final Four spot.

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)