Aside from their display of talent and teamwork, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws and Lady Tamaraws attributed their Final Four performances to the surge of the FEU Community’s support in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 volleyball tournaments.

The Morayta-based squads expressed their gratitude and assured powerful performances in their upcoming knockout games.

"Thank you kasi 'di niyo kami sinukuan nu'ng Season 84. 'Yung maipapangako lang po namin, hangga't hindi pa po tapos, ibibigay po namin 'yung best namin, ibibigay namin lahat kung anong mayroon kami (Thank you because you didn't give up on us back in Season 84. What we can promise is that as long as we're not done, we will give our best, we will give our all)," Lady Tamaraw Chenie Tagaod said in their semifinal conference against National University (NU) last May 4.

The green-and-gold volleybelles made a return to the Final Four this Season 86 after improving their Season 85 win-loss record from 6-8 to 9-5. 

Despite being underdogs in the said matchup against NU, the green-and-gold squad managed to pull out a 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 upset to force a do-or-die match.

Head Coach Manolo Refugia then mentioned how they aim to reciprocate how the community has fought for them.

"Sa FEU Community, maraming salamat sa suporta. 'Yung mga FEU hanggang dulo, talagang kung sila ipinaglalaban nila kami, ipaglalaban din natin 'yung FEU (To the FEU Community, thank you very much for the support. To the people rooting for FEU till the end, if they really fight for us, we will also fight for FEU)," he added. 

Meanwhile, the Tamaraws dominated the men’s tournament, snatching the top spot with a 12-2 win-loss record.

Unfortunately, the Eddieson Orcullo-led squad collapsed against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers last May 5, 23-25, 19-25, 26-28, falling short of utilizing their twice-to-beat advantage to move onto the finals.

In a post-game conference, Coach Orcullo pledged better execution from the team to come out victorious in their next game for the sake of the community.

"FEU Community, maraming salamat. Kung wala kayo, wala kami rito sa harapan ng mga nanonood. Gagawin namin lahat para hanggang dulo, makuha namin 'yung laban sa Wednesday. 'Yung all-out talagang dapat malaro namin, ibibigay namin 'yon. Ilalaro namin 'to para sa inyo, sa FEU Community namin (FEU Community, thank you very much. If you weren't there, we also wouldn't be here. We will do our best so that in the end, we take the win on Wednesday. The all-out performance that we have to play, we will give that. We will play this for you, our FEU Community)," he shared. 

The FEU squads will fight for finals spots as they face the Lady Bulldogs and the Golden Spikers once again in their respective matches to be held tomorrow, May 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

-Vince Matthew Jaramilla

(Photo by Alyssa Andrea Quiogue/FEU Advocate)