Season 79 record: 8-6 (4th)
Key departures: Remy Palma
Key additions: Celine Domingo (transferee)
Key holdovers: Bernadeth Pons, Chin-Chin Basas, Jerrili Malabanan
The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, who have been consistent contenders in the past three years, are coming into Season 80 with their core intact. They lost veteran leader and middle blocker Remy Palma to graduation, but the rest of their battle-tested players are returning to give their hunt for their 30th women's volleyball title another go.
The Lady Tamaraws closed the elimination round of Season 79 strong, which was enough to earn them the fourth spot in the semifinals. They gave runner-up Ateneo a tough challenge in the Final Four, but they eventually succumbed in four sets. Now that they still have the tools to contend with the top-tier teams, will they be able to break through to the Finals?
New head coach George Pascua, who previously steered the FEU men's volleyball team to four UAAP titles and two runner-up finishes in his 11-year tenure, hopes to find similar success in the women's division. He also has two Philiipine Superliga championships under his belt. Once a member of the Tamaraws himself back in the 90s, Pascua is happy for this opportunity to bring glory back to his alma mater.
"We want to meet the expectations of the university and its fans," he said in Filipino. "Of course the pressure is normal especially when you're in transition, but we are able to manage it because of the players' willingness. They are very hungry to win another championship, knowing that FEU is one the powerhouses in volleyball."
"We won't remove anything, we'll just change some things. The composition of players will stay the same, but they need to adapt to the new system and program," the mentor continued.
Some of the first things that Pascua worked on are his wards' psychological and emotional readiness, as well as their mental toughness in handling the pressure and stress that come with being student-athletes. Once they got that settled, they held a training camp in Baguio to focus on building their team chemistry.
With Palma gone, the Lady Tamaraws needed to address the gaping hole that their vocal leader left. They convinced Rosemarie Vargas, former UAAP Best Scorer who last saw action in Season 75, to return and provide additional veteran presence.
"Coach George said I can teach my teammates not just what I learned in playing volleyball, but also maturity. Since I'm the oldest, I told them that I'm here not just as a teammate but also as an older sister whom they can run to in and out of the court," the 25-year-old shared.
Unfortunately for the FEU community, she was ruled out for the season days before the opening because of a left Achilles tendon injury that would take six to eight weeks to recover from.
While Vargas undoubtedly would have been a huge boost, the Lady Tamaraws still have enough firepower to continue being a threat to the rest of the league.
Number one on the list is skipper Bernadeth Pons, a triple-double machine whose high level of play will set the tone for the Lady Tamaraws. On her final year of eligibility and final chance to secure the trophy, she embraced the responsibility of ushering the team to the right direction although she admitted that they are still adjusting to life without Palma.
"We're still adjusting because we all know how Ate Rem plays and how her swag inside the court boosts our morale," she said. "But we only need a few more adjustments, we're getting there."
Pons will need ample support from fellow veteran spikers Chin-Chin Basas and Jerrili Malabanan. Celine Domingo, a transferee from UE, and Czarina Carandang are also expected to make an impact in the middle position. Libero Ria Duremdes will anchor their defense, while Kyle Negrito and Angelica Cayuna will take on the playmaking duties.
"So far, our middle is okay but of course it will still be different in the actual game where the pressure and intensity are different," Pascua said. "The connection of our libero to setter to middle is very important. Once they connect, it will be easier for our outside hitters. We're practicing to execute that connection really well."
FEU is one of the favorites to win the crown because of their strong weapons, but Pascua carefully reminds his players to concentrate on the task at hand instead of looking far ahead.
"Right now, our initial target is the top four. We don't want them to set their minds on the championship. We'll take it one game at a time until we reach our goal. I instructed them to consider every game a championship game, to consider every game as if it's their last game."