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Faida Bakanke—Photo: UAAP
Far Eastern University (FEU) got back at one first round tormentor in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
The Lady Tamaraws hope to exact vengeance on another.
And they’re upbeat, riding on the surging performance of Faida Bakanke, who is overcoming the language barrier by letting her game do the talking.
“We have to finish the second round with the best record possible,” FEU coach Manolo Refugia said on Saturday.
The Lady Tamaraws had just disposed of University of the Philippines, 25-20, 27-29, 25-21, 25-21, and they can now put their full focus on National University (NU).
“I hope we can get back at them,’’ Refugia said. Since that loss to NU, FEU has been on the rise largely to Bakanke, who is pouring it all out in the second round.
“I didn’t play that much in the first round, so I’m really determined to bounce back here in the second round,’’ said Bakanke after firing 19 points built on 16 attacks apart from two blocks and an ace for a 48-percent efficiency on the floor.
Bakanke also stood at the forefront of FEU’s stunning upset of University of Santo Tomas (UST) last week, a victory that rejigged the race for the top two spots heading into the Final Four and gave the traditional heavyweight a morale boost.
NU triumphs
“That win over UST boosted our morale and leveled up the team’s mindset. The pressure will always be there against any team, we just have to stick to the system and the great relationship this team has,’’ said Refugia.
That victory also briefly gave the Lady Tamaraws a chance at the semifinal protection, but that disappeared with National U’s 25-16, 25-14, 25-18 victory over Adamson in Saturday’s second match.
Alyssa Solomon had 14 points to give the Lady Bulldogs at least a tie for the playoff bonus and said that regardless of where she and her teammates end up, they will keep flooring the pedal as they have in the second round, where NU is on an unbeaten run.
“We just go all out regardless of who we face,’’ Solomon said.
For now FEU will now focus on what it can control.
“I just wish all of our players are healthy, whichever team we face in the Final Four,’’ said Refugia.
That is still up for grabs.
The Lady Bulldogs currently hold the lead at 11-2 (win-loss) and will take that record into this Wednesday’s showdown versus the Lady Tamaraws, who know they will be facing the best that NU can muster.
Bella Belen, the Lady Bulldogs star spiker, vowed that much.
“We respect every opponent. We will study them (Lady Tamaraws), watch their games and break down every detail in our preparation,’’ said Belen, who also finished with 14 points.
La Salle and UST are tied at 10-2, and even if they hold form against their respective opponents in their next outing, they will still face each other on the final day of the elimination round. That means one of them is guaranteed to drop to three losses.
But whoever ends up at the top spot, Bakanke and FEU are ready.
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“I was told to believe in myself and trust my teammates. I think I can [continue my strong performances] in the Final Four,’’ said Bakanke.