By Leiniel A. Santos

Following an accomplished Southeast Asian (SEA) Games beach volleyball journey, former Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraw Jude Garcia will play in the upcoming season of Spikers’ Turf under the newly formed Criss Cross King Crunchers, as announced in a One Sports Facebook post last Friday, March 1.

The former green-and-gold hitter’s most successful UAAP career was in season 81, where he was named the second-best outside hitter and won the silver medal in both indoor and beach volleyball.

However, Garcia was not able to continue his force as a Tamaraw due to the pandemic that cancelled Season 82.

He was only able to play two games in his final year which were against the University of the East and the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

In 2019, the five-foot-eleven open spiker represented the Philippines in the 30th SEA Games men’s beach volleyball and brought home his first-ever international bronze medal.

During the 31st SEA Games, the Jude Garcia and Jaron Raquinton tandem secured another bronze medal in men's beach volleyball. 

Garcia's achievement sustained until the 32nd SEA Games as his tandem with Raquinton was joined with Ran Abdilla and James Buytrago in the same sport.

In an interview with FEU Advocate, Garcia mentioned that the self-confidence and pride that he gained in his international stint will be one of the key factors in helping his new club team.

“‘Yung self-confidence tsaka ‘yung pride sa sarili kasi bihira lang ‘yung players na makapag-represent sa bansa so ‘yun ‘yung nagiging sandata ko ngayon sa paglalaro sa club team. ‘Yun ‘yung way ko para mapakita kung ano yung mga natutunan ko (The self-confidence and also my pride because it's rare that players can represent the country, so that's what becomes my weapon now when playing on the club team. That's my way to show what I've learned),” he mentioned.

He also said that he is excited to play indoors again, as he was focused on his beach volleyball stint for almost four years.

“Siyempre masaya kasi first time ulit na makapaglaro sa Spikers’ Turf and first club team ko ulit. Matagal tagal din kasi nag-beach [volleyball] ako for almost four years since 2019 kaya sobrang excited ako makabalik sa indoor (Of course it's happy because it's my first time to play on the Spikers' Turf and my first club team again. It's been a long time since I played beach [volleyball] for almost four years since 2019, so I'm very excited to be back indoors),” he added.

The former Tamaraw will be playing under the leadership of the former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles head coach Tai Bundit and Atenean Ysay Marasigan.

(Photo by Raph Bautista/FEU Advocate)