**Tin Ubaldo and the Lady Tamaraws Eye Redemption in V-League Finals**
The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, led by team captain Tin Ubaldo, are on the verge of another shot at glory as they head into the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge Finals.
Their journey to this point has been marked by perseverance, culminating in a dominant semifinal performance against UAAP rival University of the East (UE).
After a roller-coaster run in the elimination round, the Lady Tamaraws found their rhythm in the semifinals, sweeping the Lady Red Warriors in two convincing matches. FEU clinched the series with a 25-21, 25-15, 25-20 win in Game 1, followed by a statement 25-20, 25-19, 25-2 victory in Game 2 last Sunday.
“Morale booster siya eh. Kasi ‘yung foundation, parang maganda siyang stepping stone pataas,” said Ubaldo, reflecting on the impact of their semifinal sweep and how it sets the tone for their upcoming Finals appearance.
The victory is a crucial stepping stone for FEU, who are hungry for redemption after falling short in last year’s Finals.
In 2023, the Lady Tamaraws were swept by the College of St. Benilde in the best-of-three series.
With that loss still fresh in their minds, Ubaldo and her teammates are determined to rewrite their story this season.
“Sobrang excited namin na lumaban sa finals kasi nga last year, na-sweep kami. Pero ngayon ta-try talaga namin ‘yung best namin makuha ‘yung championship,” Ubaldo declared, exuding confidence and anticipation for the title match.
Standing between FEU and the championship is their perennial UAAP rival, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses. UST has been a juggernaut throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten as they march into the Finals.
Despite UST’s dominant form, Ubaldo believes the Lady Tamaraws are up to the challenge, particularly after overcoming numerous hurdles from the elimination round to the semifinals.
“Masaya, though maraming lapses pero mabilis naming nagagawan ng paraan. Parang lahat ng errors, lahat ng miscues, mabilis namin siyang nata-translate sa points kaya happy kami kasi na-work out namin ‘yung things na kailangan namin i-work out nang mabilis,” Ubaldo explained, pointing to the team’s adaptability as a key factor in their success.
With their sights set on the V-League crown, Ubaldo and the Lady Tamaraws are eager to prove that this season will end differently.
Their preparation, confidence, and ability to learn from past mistakes have all led to this pivotal moment.
The much-anticipated showdown between FEU and UST will take place on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the Philsports Arena, where the Lady Tamaraws hope to complete their journey to redemption.
