For the first time in her young UAAP collegiate career, University of Santo Tomas sophomore Angge Poyos finds herself in unfamiliar territory.
After leading the Golden Tigresses to a Cinderella run to the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Finals — dethroning the DLSU Lady Spikers along the way — Poyos now faces a win-or-go-home situation.
Despite posting a triple-double of 24 points, 13 excellent digs, and 12 excellent receptions, Poyos and the Tigresses dropped to the third seed after a heart-wrenching 25-23, 20-25, 28-30, 27-29 loss to La Salle in the playoff for the No. 2 seed.
The pride of Bohol lamented UST’s missed chances to secure the twice-to-beat advantage — particularly their costly collapses in the third and fourth sets — but Poyos was quick to shift focus to the task ahead: a do-or-die Final Four match against La Salle on Saturday, May 3, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Talagang mas magtitiwala kami sa sarili namin, sa kakayanan namin this Saturday dahil do or die. Ilalabas talaga namin, kumbaga all out na, ‘yung kumpiyansa sa sarili hindi mawawala ‘yon at yung winning mentality sana magkaron kami non this Saturday, para ma-extend pa namin yung series at makapasok kami sa Finals,” Poyos shared.
“Sabi nga nila coach kanina na tatlong chances na yung binigay samin ni Lord para makuha yung panalo, so sa Saturday yun na yung last chance namin para i-prove sa sarili namin na kaya namin. So balikan ulit namin sa training kung ano man yung mga naging lapses namin sa game today.”
Poyos is urging her team to turn the sting of this playoff loss into motivation as they prepare for the all-important knockout match. The Tigresses had multiple chances to close out both the third and fourth sets but faltered in the end. UST led 18-13 in the third — which ended up as the longest set of Season 87 — and were also up 22-17 in the fourth before letting the lead slip away.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Yun nga dikit pero natatalo kami ng two points, three points. Magtiwala lang sa sarili, sa coaches, sa system. Siguro may maipapakita pa kami… na kaya namin sa Saturday, especially na… babalikan namin ‘yung mga lapses namin kasi magviviewing kami… so ayun, sana makuha namin yung game, kasi mas gigil kami… sa labanan, kailangan pa naming manalo ng dalawang beses… [against La Salle] kaya naman,” the Season 86 Rookie of the Year stressed.
“‘Yung kumpiyansa lang sa sarili kasi nga malalaki nga ‘yung La Salle, kayang bantayan yung wing spiker namin. Siguro ‘yung sinasabi ni coach na desisyon-making na puro lakas, at kailangan ng utak sa palo,” she added.
For head coach Kungfu Reyes, UST must approach Saturday’s knockout match with a strong combination of grit, mental fortitude, and discipline — especially with a potential second straight Finals berth on the line, something the program hasn’t achieved since Seasons 72 and 73.
“May kasamang gigil… ‘yung di pa nag-start alam na mananalo kami, kumbaga talunin namin sa ano… mindset pa lang alam na namin na kaya namin talunin. Those things bitbit na ‘yon, kasama ng lahat ng hardwork, kasama ng lahat ng sacrifices, ibinigay namin. Especially, ‘yung mga player na ‘to ayun ‘yung bibitbitin namin para sa Thomasian community na nagtitiwala, regardless kung ano yung lineup namin. Humina man lineup namin, o lumakas man lineup namin. Talagang ilalaban namin ang UST hanggang dulo. Kami ang pipiliin lagi,” Reyes declared.
“Who wants it more na labanan dito. Yun talagang gugustuhin namin na ma-extend yung series. Para at least papuntang Finals. Ibig sabihin hindi pa tayo ready, may mga chance pa to comeback, at nandito na rin kami dati. Pipilitin lang namin i-overachieve dahil Final Four na ‘to eh.”
#WATCH: UST head coach Kungfu Reyes and Angge Poyos are all-in with the underdog mentality as they gear up for a do-or-die duel vs. La Salle this Saturday 🏐
📹 @ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/DM35NZet46
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 30, 2025
