A photo posted by rachdaquis13 (@rachdaquis13) on Oct 8, 2016 at 1:35am PDT

MANILA, Philippines – Seven years since she last played in the UAAP, Rachel Anne Daquis remains intricately linked to the famed Far Eastern University (FEU) women's volleyball program.

The FEU Lady Tamaraws have won 29 UAAP women's volleyball championships and produced countless star players, but Daquis will be the first to have her jersey number retired by the school.

No other Lady Tamaraw will ever be able to wear the number three, as FEU is set to hang Daquis' jersey on the rafters, where it will be placed alongside jerseys of other iconic Tamaraws in Johnny Abarrientos (14) and Arwind Santos (19).

Daquis played for FEU from 2004 to 2009, winning Best Server honors twice then leading the Lady Tamaraws to the title in Season 70, where they outlasted the Adamson University Lady Falcons in three games.

"Iba talaga (si Rachel)," FEU athletic director Mark Molina told ABS-CBN News in a recent interview. "Up to this day, when you talk about FEU volleyball, siya talaga. Wala pa – there is no one close to Rachel."

Molina knew it was a loaded statement. "Even yung mga before pa… even though we've won 29 championships, siguro si Tina Salak (is on her level), 'di ba, pero iba talaga ang contribution ni Rachel," he explained.

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He pointed out that Daquis' rise coincided with the growing popularity of volleyball, and indeed she was one of the first volleyball stars to draw a following outside of the sport. "Even after the FEU days, parang mas sumikat pa siya," Molina pointed out. "Immeasurable talaga (ang contributions niya)."

"She really put FEU volleyball, kumbaga, on the map," he added.

Daquis parlayed her popularity as an athlete into a modeling career, even appearing as an FHM cover girl in October 2014. Yet she remained as active as ever in the volleyball scene, with stints in the V-League, and now, in the Philippine Superliga. She has also represented the Philippines in numerous international competitions.

For Molina, the impact Daquis had on their volleyball program was similar to what Abarrientos and Santos did for their basketball program. Like those two hoops icons, Daquis was able to elevate the FEU Lady Tamaraws into the national consciousness, to the point the most casual sports fans were aware of her and her connection with FEU.

"Even non-volleyball fans, they know who Rachel is," he said. "And they all know that she's from FEU. At the end of the day, it's the impact niya sa school – it goes beyond her sport."

Molina knew that it was just a matter of time before Daquis' jersey was retired, though it was Atty. Gianna Montinola, FEU's vice-president for corporate affairs, who ultimately got the ball rolling regarding the matter.

"We discussed it amongst ourselves, with athletics, and it was unanimous," said Molina. "We all thought na deserving talaga si Rachel, walang question."

Daquis' jersey will be retired in a simple ceremony in FEU in February 2017.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.