Volleyball is often a game defined by height, where towering attackers dominate the Taraflex and dictate the rhythm of play.
But for 11 years, the University of Santo Tomas found its pulse in a 5-foot-2 libero whose heart played far bigger than her frame ever suggested.
Detdet Pepito may have always been one of the smallest players on the court. But as she closes the book on a storied UAAP career, the Golden Tigresses’ fearless captain leaves behind a legacy built on sacrifice, grit, and unwavering leadership — proving once and for all that height never measured her; her heart did.
11 YEARS OF STORIES
Pepito arrived in España as a stubborn prospect who never imagined herself anchoring the backrow. She leaves as one of the most decorated liberos the program has ever produced.
She first suited up for UST’s girls’ volleyball team from Seasons 78 to 82, a run that produced three consecutive runner-up finishes (Seasons 78–80) and two bronze medals (Seasons 81 and 82). Along the way, she also collected four straight UAAP Girls’ Volleyball Best Libero awards from Season 79 to 82.
At the collegiate level, Pepito elevated her game even further. She was twice named UAAP Best Libero (Seasons 85 and 86) and anchored the Golden Tigresses to five straight Final Four appearances. It is a run highlighted by two fourth-place finishes (Seasons 84 and 85), two bronze medals (Seasons 87 and 88), and a breakthrough runner-up finish in Season 86 during UST’s Cinderella run.
In her final UAAP appearance, she delivered 23 excellent digs, eight excellent receptions, and five excellent sets in a 25-20, 24-26, 24-26, 21-25 loss to National University in the stepladder semifinals of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Saturday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“Unang-una sa lahat, thank you, Lord, dahil safe yung laro. Safe na natapos yung laro na walang na-injure sa mga teammates ko. Grateful lang din sa experience na ito — talagang walang katulad ang UAAP,” Pepito shared.
“Thank you sa lahat ng sumuporta sa UST community, sa coaches ko, and especially, sa teammates ko na tinry yung best para pahabain yung buhay namin sa UAAP.”
Beyond the numbers and accolades, what Pepito will carry most is the journey itself — shaped by a steady pipeline of mentors from Kungfu Reyes to Yani Fernandez to Shaq delos Santos, who molded a once-stubborn Quezon City kid into one of the UAAP’s most respected leaders.
That loyalty, however, came with sacrifices. Pepito turned down opportunities to join Alas Pilipinas Women, choosing instead to stay fully committed to UST and guide the Golden Tigresses through one of the most competitive eras in UAAP women’s volleyball, featuring the likes of National University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, and Adamson University.
“Salamat talaga sa UST. Halos half ng buhay ko, parang doon ako lumaki since Grade 7. Dahil sa kanila, talagang nag-grow ako bilang tao ngayon. From pasaway na tao, tapos naging leader pa ng mga ito,” she added.
“Thank you lang din sa experience at sa alagang pinadama ng UST. I hope nabigyan ko ng kahit papaano ng balik sa UST yung performance ko.”
WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER
With a degree in Elementary Education already in hand, Pepito made one thing clear: her journey in volleyball is far from over.
She has declared for the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft, joining a growing list of UAAP standouts who have taken their talents to the pro ranks, including FEU’s Tin Ubaldo and UP’s Niña Ytang, among others.
“Siyempre, doon na tayo sa mas passion ko — yung paglalaro ng volleyball. If ever ‘man, huwag naman sana, maging second option ko pa rin yung sa education,” Pepito said.
As she moves forward, Pepito hopes the next chapter of UST volleyball remains anchored by co-captain Reg Jurado, whom she believes is ready to take on a bigger leadership role following in the footsteps of Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure.
“Actually, nandito, yung katabi ko, si co-captain. Yon nga, ang dami naming napagdaanan, kasama ko siya. I think marami siyang natutunan sa akin — hindi lang sa akin, [pero] pati kay Ate Eya [Laure]. Sa nakikita ko, kayang-kaya nilang dalhin yung team. Sa skills-wise, okay din kasi yung captain ball ‘pag nakakapuntos. Mas kaya mo dalhin yung teammates mo,” Pepito shared.
Still, she acknowledged that leadership alone won’t be enough to bring UST back to the top of UAAP women’s volleyball — a summit the program has not reached since Season 72 (2010).
Like teammate Cassie Carballo, Pepito also hopes key pieces such as Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula remain for their final playing years, forming a stronger core alongside Carballo, Angge Poyos, and the middle blocker tandem of Lianne Penuliar and Avril Bron.
“And siyempre, yung nandito na mga katabi ko, ang captain ball ay title lang naman. Pero nandoon pa rin yung kailangang suporta ng seniors at tulong galing sa kanila,” Pepito expressed.
Pepito may be leaving the UAAP Taraflex without a championship crown, but she walks away with something just as lasting — a legacy that proves that in a sport often dominated by giants, the tallest presence can come from the smallest frame with the biggest heart.
