With tears held back and her future hanging in the balance, University of Santo Tomas team captain Detdet Pepito walked off the court of the SMART Araneta Coliseum — uncertain of what comes next, but proud of the legacy she leaves behind after the Golden Tigresses’ gritty UAAP Season 87 campaign ended just shy of the finals.
The 22-year-old libero played a crucial role in the Golden Tigresses’ bronze-medal finish — their first since Season 79 — ranking second in the league among Best Diggers with 4.25 digs per set and fourth among Best Receivers with a 42.74-percent reception efficiency.
Beyond the stats, Pepito’s leadership was instrumental in steering a young UST squad that included Cassie Carballo, Angge Poyos, Reg Jurado, Marga Altea, and Em Banagua through a season riddled with adversity.
“We’ll see. Sa academics and sa OJT muna focus na kailangan namin punan,” said Pepito, an Elementary Education major, after recording 25 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions in UST’s 22-25, 25-11, 21-25, 21-25 semifinal loss to La Salle.
“Yung coaches, sila Father, at mga teammates, at yung community talaga magiging big factor. Ibang klase talaga yung supporta na natatanggap namin. Totoo nga yung sinabi nila ate Eya na iba yung UAAP at iba sumuporta yung UST. Siyempre gusto pa rin naman namin ma-experience, pero let’s see,” she added.
While a bronze may seem like a step down from their runner-up finish in Season 86, Pepito was quick to remind everyone of the trials UST had to overcome this year — emerging with heads held high.
Before the season even started, the Tigresses lost key players Xyza Gula (displaced tailbone fracture) and Jonna Perdido (torn left ACL). As the tournament wore on, minor injuries hounded others, including outside hitter Kyla Cordora (ankle sprain) and Banagua (hyperextended thumb).
“Of course, super proud and thankful sa mga sumuporta sa amin. I know talagang marami kami pinagdaanan yung team namin this season. Actually, nung mga unang-una na round, slow start yung nangyari. Hindi naman kami nag-give up and nag-stick kami sa system na meron yung UST,” Pepito shared.
“Happy kami na kahit papaano, naka-podium finish kami na bronze. Happy pa rin kami kasi maraming teams ang may gusto na Final Four, yet kami yung nandito. Super happy and thankful sa lahat ng support and bashers,” she added with a smile.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
With seniors like Abbu, Perdido, and Pepito still holding one more year of eligibility, their return remains uncertain. Still, Pepito hopes the culture and values she helped build will live on within the next generation of Tigresses.
With Carballo, Poyos, and Jurado continuing to lead the charge, UST is optimistic about the development of young players like Altea, Cordora, Bien Arasan, Sandrine Escober, Kaizah Huyno, Ashlee Knop, Nigerian middle blocker Blessing Unekwe, and Arlene Waje.
“Sa akin, bilang captain ball, kung paano ko linead yung team na ito. Ever since naman, talagang yung values yung pinaka-importante bilang player sa UST. Happy ako na kahit papaano, na-instill namin sa mga bata yung ganoon na values, which is yung respeto sa lahat ng tao kahit sabihin natin sa mga guard or janitors sa UST, marunong kami rumespeto, pati sa mga alumni,” Pepito reflected.
Throughout her nine-season journey at UST, Pepito became one of the most decorated liberos in school history. She earned four Best Libero awards and contributed to three silver and two bronze finishes with the Junior Golden Tigresses.
At the collegiate level, she added two more Best Libero honors, two bronze medals (Seasons 85 and 87), and a silver medal (Season 86).
“Ang dami ‘eh, pero yung pinaka-importante talaga ay yung pagiging humble and grateful sa nare-receive namin and sa nangyayari sa amin. I’m very thankful talaga sa mga coaches, lalo kay coach Kungfu at kay coach Ian na naniwala sa akin. Pasaway talaga kasi ako nung high school, so parang may times na gusto ko na mag-give up, pero tinulungan nila ako na i-overcome ko yung ganon na sitwasyon. Dahil dito kung nasaan ako, dahil sa kanila ‘yon,” she said.
UST head coach Kungfu Reyes, for his part, hopes Pepito will return for one final run and lead the Tigresses in their pursuit of ending a 15-year title drought since Season 72 in 2010.
“Maraming pwedeng mag-step up, pero hopefully yung Detdet Pepito will return to the hard court for UST kasi isa yan sa mga graduating students namin. ‘Yon lang muna,” Reyes told reporters.
