'No pressure' approach makes Lady Tamaraws play better

MANILA, Philippines — 'Light and easy' does the trick for Far Eastern University (FEU).

FEU did not hand five-time UAAP champion De La Salle University an easy twice-to-beat advantage ticket in Final Four following its four-set win, 25-20, 28-26, 20-25, 25-23, last Saturday in the Season 87 women's volleyball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

"I told them in the dugout to just enjoy the last game in the elimination round, and enjoy to win... then that's what translated in the game," head coach Tina Salak said.

"No pressure, there's no heavy feeling. That's how we do it, they should just enjoy the game," she added.

Facing the defending champions Lady Bulldogs in the semifinals, the Lady Tamaraws hope to use all their previous heartbreaks to pull off what seemed impossible.

Winning against La Salle, this can set the tone for the Lady Tamaraws heading to the playoffs.

"Since we ended the elimination round on a high note, we should carry all the experiences, and all the lessons."

"We will focus more on our side, we will focus on the blocking and on our defense, we will improve on our technical and tactical side," she added.

FEU erased the twice-to-beat advantage of NU in the UAAP Season 86.

But the Lady Bulldogs bounced back harder to fend off the Lady Tamaraws and reach the Finals

"Facing NU, we will study all the tendencies," Salak said.