Maybe it’s time that Angge Poyos also be included in the super rookie conversation this UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
After all, the University of Santo Tomas’ first-year outside spiker just set the league record in the Final Four era for most points by a rookie in a single game on Wednesday night.
Poyos delivered 31 significant points on 27 attacks, three aces, and a block as the Golden Tigresses denied Adamson University, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena to secure the first ticket to the Final Four.
That historic performance was good enough to surpass batchmate Casiey Dongallo, who scored 30 points on February 25 in a 25-22, 17-25, 18-25, 27-25, 11-15 defeat to Far Eastern University.
“Sobrang laking bagay nung break kasi nga nagkaroon ako ng time mag-reflect at mag-recover lalo na yung sa tuhod ko. Thankful kasi 100 percent na akong nakabalik and sinimulan ko sa training,” said Poyos on her new career-high.
“Wala na akong iniinda kaya thankful kasi naibigay ko yung 100 percent ko this game.”
On March 20, UST escaped Ateneo de Manila University in five sets.
And there, Poyos hurt her right knee after chasing a loose ball, banging her knee against an LED board.
She braved on against National University on March 24 despite not being fully fit as the Golden Tigresses absorbed their first loss of the season.
Poyos also credited her teammates for continuing to fight amid the challenges surfacing throughout the season.
“Thankful kasi comeback game nga for us kasi natalo kami last game against NU. Thankful kasi nakapag-contribute pa rin ako sa game. Nagka-break so nag-reflect ako doon and nag-recover ayun thankful kasi nakabalik,” said the Bohol native.
“Thankful din ako sa mga ates ko kasi patuloy silang kumakapit at lumalaban para sa team.”
For UST head coach Kungfu Reyes, Poyos was just another testament to the team’s system.
Poyos was not the first Golden Tigress to come from the UST High program and have herself a career in the collegiate ranks.
Eya Laure, also a UST High product, was the last UST player to breach 30 points.
She scored 31 as well in their 25-19, 25-21, 29-31, 33-31 win over Ateneo in Season 84’s first round.
“Actually ito yung lagi naming ibinibida kung anong program meron kami sa UST,” said Reyes.
“Yung grassroots program, sabi nga nagde-develop talaga kami ng mga players. I think yung program ni UST itself yun ang talagang nagdadala. Same people kasi yung nasa high school at sa college so talagang proseso,” he continued.
“Mahabang proseso talaga yung ginagawa. Ito at least kahit papaano nagbubunga yung mga pinaghihirapan nila.”
