For the past four head-to-head matchups between University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University, the Golden Tigresses have consistently had the upper hand over the Lady Spikers.
Many fans attribute UST’s four consecutive victories — all of which ended in thrilling five-setters — to the offensive firepower of Season 86 Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado.
However, Season 86 Best Setter Cassie Carballo and two-time Best Libero Detdet Pepito think a bit differently.
For them, UST’s success against a star-studded La Salle squad, featuring Season 85 Rookie-MVP Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Lyka de Leon, comes down to two key factors: puso and grit.
UST certainly showed the heart of a tiger on Wednesday afternoon, clawing back from a 1-2 set deficit to secure a gritty 25-12, 22-25, 13-25, 25-23, 15-13 victory over La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Behind the stellar efforts of Carballo, Pepito, and company, the Golden Tigresses improved to 2-1. Meanwhile, the Lady Spikers dropped to 1-2 — La Salle’s worst start to a season since Season 68 in 2006.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Sobrang sarap sa feeling na makita yung isa’t-isa na talagang pinupusuan yung laro. Nahirapan din kami sa La Salle, lalo’t na nung fifth set, kasi hindi rin sila biro na kalaban. Siguro mas gusto lang namin manalo sa game na ito,” said Carballo, who dished out a season-high 22 excellent sets along with two points.
“Yung puso. As what I have said sa interview kanina, iba yung feeling pag alam namin yung purpose namin at yung pinaghuhugutan namin.”
UST’s road to this highly anticipated showdown was anything but smooth.
The Golden Tigresses suffered an opening-day loss to the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws before narrowly escaping the University of the East Lady Warriors in four sets.
For Pepito, who has captained UST for the past two seasons, the Tigresses’ early struggles stemmed from a lack of grit and teamwork — something they had in abundance during their silver-medal finish in Season 86.
While it took three games for UST to rediscover its identity, Pepito was relieved that her team found its fire just in time to take down a storied rival like La Salle.
“I think yung grit talaga namin. This time nabalik yung gutom namin. Rinemind ko lang talaga na kailangan namin paghugutan yung isa’t-isa kasi nung past few games namin, parang nagkanya-kanya kami,” said Pepito, who anchored UST’s defense with 24 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions.
“Nahirapan kami doon kasi hindi naman kami ganoon maglaro na isa lang yung pupuntos at isa lang yung gagalaw. Teamwork talaga. Napakita naman namin kanina at positive yung lumabas. Lagi sinasabi talaga na magkaroon kami ng pride, UST dinadala namin, hindi kanya-kanyang apelyido.”
