By Angel Joyce C. Basa

After a season of captaincy, Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraw Tin Ubaldo reflected on the struggles and successes she faced as she heads into her last playing year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.

The senior setter looked back on the mental challenges she faced as captain, sharing how the role served as the ‘glue’ that held the team together amid tough competition.

“Kailangan mo rin ma-put ‘yung feet mo sa shoes ng iba. Sobrang hirap, kasi parang lahat iintindihin mo, lahat ikaw mag-a-adjust, lahat ikaw magbubuo sa kanila. Ikaw ‘yung maggu-glue sa kanila para maging team kami (You also have to put yourself in others’ shoes. It was very hard because you have to understand everything, you have to adjust, you have to solidify the team. You are the glue that keeps the team together),” Ubaldo stated.

Under her leadership last Season 87, the Morayta-based squad completed a fourth-seed finish on their campaign after falling short in their semis appearance against National University.

Despite the hardship, Ubaldo acknowledged that her teammates gave her the motivation to persevere and to continuously stand up as the ‘ate’ they all needed, with or without the ‘captain’ title.

Now playing as the most tenured member of the team, the green-and-gold volleybelle shared how she looks forward to whatever her last season has in store for her.

”Lahat ng mangyayari o lahat ng gagawin namin, ‘yun ‘yung nilu-look forward ko. ‘Di ako namimili ng kahit ano, kasi nga I’m treating everything as if it’s my last, because it is (Everything that will happen and we will do, that is what I’m looking forward to. I won’t ask for anything else because I’m treating everything as if it’s my last, because it is),” she said.

The psychology senior made her debut as a Lady Tamaraw in the UAAP back in Season 84 as part of the post-pandemic ‘revamped’ team in 2022. 

Moving forward, outside hitter Gerzel Petallo will be taking charge as the team’s new captain as they open Season 88 on a Valentine’s day match up against De La Salle University on Saturday, February 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

(Photo by Krystoffer Zyanel Bermudez/FEU Advocate)