Unsung heroes rose to the occasion for University of Santo Tomas to overhaul a two-set deficit to win via a reverse sweep against Far Eastern University on Sunday evening.
Aside from the ever-reliable rookie Angge Poyos, it was the bench duo of Xyza Gula and Mae Coronado who made waves for the Golden Tigresses in their 22-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-20, 15-7 comeback victory at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Gula delivered 13 points on 12 attacks and one service ace including four in the blowout decider capped by back-to-back crosscourt kills for the finisher.
Coronado, who has not played in the first three games of the season of UST, poured in eight points in her debut including three clutch markers in the fifth set.
For head coach Kungfu Reyes, these performances are testaments to the readiness of every single player in the team with emphasis on the 19-year-old Coronado, who had a banging debut in the collegiate division.
“Ready yang mga yan. Lahat ng mga tao namin sa lineup naka-ready yan, kailangan lang ng right time,” said the long-time UST mentor.
“Nag-contribute sila big time. Yun yung pinakamaganda doon. Ito yung mga pagkakataon na na0rotate na namin yung tatlong quicker namin so coming from nowhere, alam na namin na si Mae na lang ang hindi pa namin nasusubukan tapos dire-diretso naman na, luckily, tumama naman lahat ng pinaghihirapan nila during training,” he continued.
It was Bianca Plaza who started for UST, just like in their first three matches, but she was pulled out in the second set and replaced by Pia Abbu.
But Abbu also did not work well for the Golden Tigresses as they fell 0-2 to the Lady Tamaraws.
That’s when the gamble of putting in Coronado worked wonders for UST. She was injected into the lineup in the last three stanzas and did not disappoint.
“Actually, ito na rin yung hinihintay ng bata gaya ng last pep talk namin, sabi namin kay Mae na hintayin lang yung tamang panahon at tamang oras at dadating din naman. Ito yung araw na yun,” shared Reyes.
