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FEU Tamaraws’ Faida Bakanke in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — After struggling in her first two games, Faida Bakanke finally played her best game so far to help Far Eastern University regain its winning ways in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
Bakanke found her rhythm when FEU needed her most as she dropped 14 points including the game-winning cross-court hit to escape the University of the Easy in five sets, 22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-27, 15-11 on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Faida Bakanke for the win! FEU escapes UE to regain its winning ways. #UAAPSeason86 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/xBN8PfZCtW
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) February 25, 2024
“My mindset was to focus and to do what coach told me. Coach said you need to ask for the ball, so I asked for the ball,” said Bakanke, who had two blocks and two aces in front of 12,000 fans.
The student-athlete from Congo, who made waves in the preseason, was limited to just a total of 12 points in the past two outings where FEU split its assignments after beating University of the Philippines and losing to defending champion La Salle.
FEU coach Manolo Refugia said that the rookie opposite spiker still needs guidance since she just started playing volleyball here in the country last year before leading the Lady Tamaraws to podium finishes in the preseason leagues.
“We need constant communication with Faida since she’s a foreign student-athlete. You have to treat her patiently and talk to her always,” said Refugia in Filipino. “She gained confidence in this game and lived up to her promise after saying: ‘I will make bawi, coach. I promise, I will make bawi.’”
Gerz Petallo, who led FEU with 18 points, agreed with her coach as the Lady Tamaraws always make sure to support Bakanke on and off the court.
“We always take care of her. We let her commit mistakes because we trust that she will make up for them. Faida is a big help to this team. We just have to continue communicating with her,” said Petallo.
Determined to make a huge impact on FEU, Bakanke is grateful to the trust of her coach and teammates, who continue to encourage her to keep going until she makes her much-anticipated UAAP breakout.
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“Thank you to my teammates and coaches because they give me confidence to do well,” said Bakanke. “Coach told me that welcome back to the UAAP [because I struggled in the first two games]. We all did our best including our last game.”
FEU has a week before facing the University of Santo Tomas next Sunday at the same venue in Pasay City.
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