Coach Tina Salak wants the FEU Lady Tamaraws to shake off the ghost of Season 84.
The Far Eastern University, which boasts a storied record in UAAP volleyball, is looking for redemption in Season 85.
The Lady Tamaraws ended up dead last in Season 84, picking up only a single win against the Lady Warriors of the University of the East. A far cry from their silver medal finish in Season 80, and the podium streak from Season 68 to 71.
"Kailangan namin makita 'yung silver lining, 'yung good sa lahat ng disaster na nangyari," libero Max Juangco told the UAAP Varsity Channel, recounting the words coach Tina Salak said to the Lady Tamaraws.
Salak is taking cue from her days as a champion player with the Philippine Army Lady Troopers and wants the Lady Tamaraws to work harder than ever to bounce back.
"Expect talaga namin patayan 'yung training. Totoo, patayan talaga," Juangco shared. "Sobrang nagdo-double time din kami."
"Lagi kaming pinapa-alalahanan na 'di kami pwedeng magkaroon ng attitude na nagpepetiks, parang complacent."
Apparently, the Lady Tamaraws will be be working with a clean slate. "From scratch talaga kami... babalik kami sa umpisa," the libero added.
Juangco, who was listed as the third-best digger for Season 84 and averaged four per set, was tapped to lead FEU along with Shiela Kiseo. And she vows to show a different kind of squad for this season.
"Iba na talaga yung FEU na makikita ngayon," she said.
FEU will start its Season 85 campaign on February 26, as it takes on sixth placer UP at 12 PM. The games will be aired on One Sports and the UAAP Varsity Channel.