FEU Lady Tamaraws’ Manolo Refugia coach in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — It was a sweet moment for Far Eastern University coach Manolo Refugia who helped bring the Lady Tamaraws back to the UAAP volleyball Final Four after two seasons.
In his first year as coach, Refugia steered FEU back to the semifinals after the team pulling off a come-from-behind 19-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20, 15-10 win over the No.1 seed University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Napakasarap ng feeling kasi siyempre. Yun ngang glory days ng FEU ay parang pilit naming binabalik,” said Refugia.
READ: UAAP volleyball: FEU gets back at UST to book Final Four berth
FEU completed the Final Four cast with a 7-4 record, joining its victim UST and defending champion La Salle and National University.
But the youthful FEU coach won’t stop dreaming big for the Lady Tamaraws with three more elimination-round games remaining.
“Ngayon, nandito na kami ngayon sa Final Four nga. Masaya, pero hindi pa natatapos yung trabaho eh. Andito na kami, eh di mangarap na kami nang sobra-sobra,” said Refugia.
READ: Past failures push FEU Lady Tamaraws closer to UAAP Final Four
The former FEU men’s volleyball team setter and captain was an assistant coach to the Lady Tamaraws in the past two seasons they missed the Final Four before he took charge last year, succeeding active consultant Tina Salak.
“Yung years na wala kami sa Final Four nasa program na ako ni FEU nun eh. Naramdaman ko, na-feel namin kung paano kami nagsimula tapos napakatamis talaga kasi andito na kami doon sa objective namin, sa goal namin na nakuha namin,” said Refugia.
“Parang nasa ulap ngayon kasi ang tagal nga naming hinintay, ang tagal pinagtrabahuan. So yung tapang, yung Be Brave na mantra, idire-diretso na namin kung hanggang saan ang abutin, kung hanggang saan ang kalabasan, basta ibigay namin lahat,” he added.
FEU will continue to boost its momentum ahead of the Final Four with three elimination round games remaining.
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“Malaking morale boost sa amin to na makamit tong ganitong panalo. Napakasarap. Mas mamo-motivate pa kami kasi kailangan pa namin i-exceed pa yung goal na Final Four. May remaining games pa kami na dapat paghandaan. Focus pa rin doon,” Refugia said.