Within days, FEU Lady Tamaraws saw one of its brightest stars take her talents overseas and welcomed back a familiar tactician tasked with guiding the team’s next chapter.
The transition begins with Faida Bakanke, whose collegiate career has officially reached its conclusion after signing with French club Vandoeuvre Nancy Volley-Ball (VNVB), a team competing in Ligue A Feminine, France’s top-tier professional women’s volleyball league.
“Powerful, ambitious and determined, Faida comes to bring all her energy and impact to the net under the Panther colors. A new step in his career, and a new weapon for the Nance collective,” the team said, announcing it in a social media post.
For FEU, Bakanke’s departure marks the end of an era that saw the opposite hitter emerge as one of the UAAP’s most reliable offensive weapons. During Season 88, she finished 13th in league scoring with 168 total points, compiling 134 attack points, 31 blocks, and three service aces.
Her production became a central pillar of FEU’s offense throughout the campaign. Yet despite her efforts, the Lady Tamaraws finished fifth in the standings and narrowly missed out on a Final Four berth.
Now, the challenge shifts from maximizing Bakanke’s scoring to replacing it.
Fortunately for FEU, the program is turning to a coach who already knows the foundation of the roster.
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Manolo Refugia is set to return as head coach of the Lady Tamaraws for Season 89, taking charge of a squad largely composed of players he helped develop during previous years with the program.
His return comes at a critical time for FEU, which is seeking stability after an uneven stretch and is eager to reclaim its place among the league’s perennial contenders.
Refugia is hardly stepping into unfamiliar territory. The longtime mentor guided the Lady Tamaraws to the Final Four in UAAP Season 86 before moving back into an assistant coaching role under Tina Salak over the next two seasons.
With Salak now concentrating on her responsibilities in the Premier Volleyball League as head coach of the Akari Chargers, the program once again turns to Refugia to lead from the front.
Adding another layer of experience to the coaching setup is decorated mentor Rald Ricafort, who joins as team consultant. The move reunites a partnership that has already found success in the professional ranks, where Refugia serves as one of Ricafort’s trusted assistants at PLDT in the PVL.
Ricafort’s arrival gives FEU access to one of the most respected minds in Philippine volleyball. Fresh off leading PLDT to two breakthrough championships last year, he brings championship experience and a winning culture to a program looking to take the next step.
The roster itself should provide Refugia with a familiar starting point. Most of FEU’s senior players are expected to return for Season 89, with the notable exceptions of former setter Tin Ubaldo—now with Choco Mucho and Alas Pilipinas—and Bakanke, who begins her professional journey in France.
Within the team, Refugia’s return has reportedly been welcomed as a stabilizing presence. His understanding of the system, established relationships with the players, and previous success within the program made him a natural choice as FEU mapped out its future.
As one chapter closes with Bakanke’s departure to Europe, another begins with Refugia back on the sidelines. The Lady Tamaraws may have lost one of their biggest scorers, but they are betting that familiarity, continuity, and an experienced coaching staff can help usher in the program’s next period of growth.
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