Through the UAAP Season 81 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses were mostly a Sisi Rondina, Eya Laure show. The graduating senior-rookie duo are the league’s two top scorers by necessity, as the Tigresses have had to cope with the injury to sophomore winger Milena Alessandrini.
But against the Adamson University Lady Falcons, Wednesday afternoon, a different star emerged for UST. Third-year middle blocker Cait Viray poured in a career-best 14 points and led UST to their sixth win in nine matches.
UST head coach Kungfu Reyes said he had been waiting for Viray to come out of her shell.
“Kailangan niya lang lumabas sa shell niya para hopefully, sa mga susunod na araw, makakasama pa rin namin dito. Yun nga, for how many years, ngayon lang ako nakasama ng gitna dito sa loob. Luckily si Caitlyn ang gitna na nakasama ko sa loob ng press room,” said Reyes, as Viray made her first appearance in a post-match press conference.
“Hopefully, more to come. Ma-maximize namin yun, ma-maintain at mahigitan pa ni Cait, at mahawaan niya si KC (Galdones) and the rest ng mga quicker namin sa loob… Magandang bagay sa amin. Kasi sa ensayo kasi, binubugbog na sila, talagang halos sa kanila nakatingin ang mata ng tao. Not necessarily the audience, but with the coaching staff,” the youth national team head coach continued.
“So talagang double’time kami sa gitna. Umiinom na ng tubig ang mga kasama nila, sila nagpapakahirap pa sa loob. So yun ang pinapaano namin sa kanila. Tsaka yung maturity na rin.”
Viray, who was converted to middle blocker during her sophomore year, is glad to finally be contributing significant numbers.
“Definitely, confidence-booster siya. Pero marami pang kailangang ayusin for me para mas maging consistent pa,” said Viray, a product of NSNU.
“Sobrang happy na mas dumami ‘yung tumutulong, nadagdagan ‘yung tulong for them (Rondina and Laure). Mas na-utilize ‘yung gitna.”
Rondina needed only 10 points against Adamson, a far cry from her 35-point, 102-spike performance last Wednesday against Ateneo. For her, this type of relief will only benefit UST.
“I believe in them naman, malaki naman tiwala ko sa kanila. Ang sarap lang sa feeling, ‘yung tipong ‘Oh bahala na kayo diyan, kami na nasa likod’,” said Rondina, who has compiled 167 points so far this season.
“‘Yung ganoon nalang iisipin mo kasi lahat sila eh – kahit si Dim (Pacres), si Eya, wala ka nang problema, magco-cover ka nalang and tumulong ka nalang. Wala na akong problema doon. Proud ako sa kanila. Sana tuloy-tuloy na ito. Hindi lang sana, gagawin namin.”
