Beyond serving as the University of Santo Tomas’ team captain for the past two UAAP women’s volleyball seasons, Detdet Pepito also shines as a teacher outside the Taraflex.
A dedicated student-athlete since her elementary days, Pepito is not only chasing her first UAAP women’s volleyball title but is also working toward earning her diploma. She is currently taking up a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at UST.
The two-time UAAP Best Libero has taken on an even greater responsibility, juggling a demanding schedule. From 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM, she works as a Grade 3 Pre-Service Science Teacher at a nearby public elementary school in San Lazaro. Then, from 6:00 PM onwards, she shifts her focus to training with the Golden Tigresses.
Balancing two demanding roles — being both a Pre-Service Teacher and a graduating student-athlete — is no easy feat. Yet, for Pepito, the fulfillment of living out her long-awaited dream of becoming an educator mirrors the sense of purpose she finds as a leader on the volleyball court.
Time and again, from transitioning as a spiker to a setter, then to a libero and now as a Pre-Service Teacher, Pepito has proven her ability to thrive in both fields.
Her leadership was once again on full display as she led UST to a dominant sweep over an undermanned Ateneo de Manila University, securing the Golden Tigresses’ fifth straight win in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Natanong na rin sa akin yan dati. Sabi ko hindi ko alam kung paano ko naba-balance. Pero sakripisyo lang talaga ang katapat. Ever since Grade 7 ako or elementary pa lang ako, student-athlete na ako,” said Pepito, who tallied eight excellent digs and eight excellent receptions.
“It’s how you manage your time and your priorities. Medyo haggard lang since mga bata yung tinuturuan ko. Pasensya lang talaga,” she explained.
“Siyempre. Same lang sila ‘eh, masaya, tapos nakaka-stress, tapos magagalit. Pare-parehas lang talaga sila, mas makukulit lang yung mga bata.”
Having graduated from a public school herself, Pepito now fully understands the sacrifices that come with being a teacher — sacrifices that are not so different from those of leading an undermanned Golden Tigresses squad.
Just as she helps shape the future of UST’s young stars, including Marga Altea, Ashlee Knop, and Francine Escober, Pepito now hopes to extend her influence beyond the Taraflex and into the classroom as an aspiring educator.
“Galing kasi akong public school, so akala ko kaya ko ito kasi nagsusungit-sungit ako.
“Tapos nung naging pre-service teacher na ako sa public school, parang kakaiba na yung mga bata talaga kaya believe ako sa mga teacher talaga na grabe yung sakripisyo at pagmamahal sa mga bata,” she shared.
#WATCH: UST’s Yani Fernandez, Detdet Pepito, and Pia Abbu are locked in for a finals rematch against Bella Belen and NU 🏐
📹 @ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/VL3oq6mzT9
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 9, 2025
