By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After a turbulent UAAP Season 84 Women’s Volleyball season, the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws are looking for a fresh start this upcoming tournament and hired the legendary Tina Salak as their new chief tactician.
Salak, one of the greatest setters Philippine volleyball has ever seen and was also a former member of the national team, will be replacing former head coach George Pascua effective next UAAP season.
The FEU volleyball program did not hesitate in approaching their former player in hopes of turning their fortunes around after finishing the previous season dead last with a 1-13 win-loss record.
FEU already formally announced Salak’s new post with the Lady Tamaraws and will be with the team soon as their intensive training camp kicks off.
“Coach Tina brings a wealth of experience and championship pedigree as a player and a coach as she returns to her alma mater,” wrote FEU in their statement.
During her playing years with the Lady Tamaraws, Salak steered FEU to two championship titles and was hailed as the UAAP Season 95 Most Valuable Player (MVP) awardee.
Salak was also the Philippine national team’s main setter for four-straight years since 1997 and propelled them to one silver medal and three-straight bronze medals.
The former Lady Tamaraw also had numerous stints in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) and last saw action with the Chery Tiggo squad last 2021 when she handled a playing assistant coach role.
In terms of her coaching experience, Salak is currently a part of the national team’s pool of coaches under Jorge Edson Souza De Brito and was the architect behind De La Salle Zobel’s UAAP Season 81 Girls’ volleyball championship title.
“Let us wish Coach Tina and the Lady Tamaraws the best as the team prepares for UAAP Season 85,” wrote FEU.
