What they lacked in height, they compensated for with heart.
That has been the story for University of Sto. Tomas throughout the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
The Golden Tigresses, dubbed as ‘Mini Miss UST’ for their unimposing size, shattered expectations and won their first eight games in the elimination round, immediately establishing themselves as a legitimate threat to the title.
(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
What was expected to be a two-team affair for the title between behemoths National University and De La Salle University suddenly turned into a three-way tussle, with the undersized UST unexpectedly knocking on the door and crashing the party.
After pouncing on the Lady Spikers in the playoff to clinch twice-to-beat, the Golden Tigresses repeated history and dethroned the defending champions in the Final Four to mark the school’s first finals appearance since Season 81.
Unfortunately, after defying expectations all season long, UST fell short in the end, missing out on the David and Goliath ending that they had hoped for.
The Golden Tigresses suffered a monumental blow early in the series after losing its top scorer in super rookie Angge Poyos, which led to a straight-set Game 1 loss at the hands of National University to open their Finals showdown.
Poyos tried to come back in Game 2, playing in spurts before Xyza Gula took over and kept UST in the game. However, despite their efforts, UST’s Cinderella run came to an end with the Lady Bulldogs ending the match in four sets en route to their second title in three seasons.
But while they failed to complete their Cinderella run, the Golden Tigresses still put up one massive fight. And for that, team captain Bernadett Pepito, the squad’s heart and soul, could not ask for more.
(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Syempre proud po kami sa bawat isa, sa mga coaches, sa mga teammates ko na kalahati lang yung height pero grabe yung puso,” said an emotional Pepito after UST’s 23-25, 25-23, 25-27, 16-25 Game 2 loss last Wednesday.
“Pumasok kami nang buo, natapos rin kahit papaano nang buo. Nakapaglaro si (Angge) Poyos, so masaya na kami nun na kinaya niya,” the 5-foot-2 defensive ace added.
The pint-sized Golden Tigresses may have come short of claiming the UAAP championship, but they surely left an enormous mark in the hearts of every Filipino volleyball fan.
“Kulang pa, pero nandun na kami. So ‘yun nga, sabi nila coach next time ‘wag na kaming papayag na ganito yung maramdaman ulit namin next season.”
