Heading into the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Detdet Pepito was vocal in saying that this is University of Santo Tomas’ best chance in recent years to claim the championship.
Ten games in, however, the Golden Tigresses are barely holding on in the Final Four race.
Hype and belief were high for UST entering the season, with an intact lineup, the return of healed players Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula, and the addition of their high school team’s Best Middle Blocker duo, Avril Bron and Lianne Penuliar.
But the Golden Tigresses faced not just setbacks, but alarming losses, leaving them in a three-way tie for third to fifth places with the Adamson Lady Falcons and the FEU Lady Tamaraws during the Holy Week break, all standing at 6-4.
UST appeared poised to be the first team to challenge De La Salle University’s perfect record last March 25, building a commanding 20-12 lead in the third set with the match tied at one set apiece. Instead, the moment exposed the squad’s instability.
The Lady Spikers delivered a comeback for the ages, taking that set 25-23 before dominating the fourth to secure a 25-12, 18-25, 25-23, 25-14 victory and stay unbeaten.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UST bounced back with a 25-17, 25-17, 18-25, 25-17 win over FEU on Sunday at their home court, the Quadricentennial Pavilion, forcing the three-way tie for third.
For captain Pepito, turning the season around will require the Golden Tigresses to find a deeper sense of purpose in their play.
“I think ‘yung puso. Kasi nakita natin na ‘yung puso ng La Salle nung time na yun, until now parang hindi pa rin kami makapaniwala na nahabol kami up 20-12,” said the fifth-year libero, reflecting on what her team still lacks.
“Kailangan pang mas mahalin ‘yung ginagawa, kailangan mas laliman pa ‘yung reason kung bakit kami naglalaro.”
While UST is clearly not a title favorite at the moment, with La Salle sitting atop the standings at a perfect 10-0, Pepito believes the season is far from over, with four more games left in the elimination round.
When things come together at the right time, and all that is lacking has been filled, the Golden Tigresses can still wreak havoc and show their fangs.
“Sinasabi ko sa kanila kung gaano kami kalakas as individuals and as a team. Doon lang po talaga kami lagi tumitingin kasi iniiwasan naming tingnan kung gaano kalakas yung kalaban kasi di ba doon kami minsan natatalo na namamangha kami kung anong kaya ng kalaban pero hindi namin alam kung hanggang saan din yung kaya naming gawin,” said Pepito, a two-time UAAP Best Libero in college.
“Sana mas madala pa po namin yung ganoong mindset na UST pa rin kami, hindi pa rin kami dapat basta-basta nagpapatalo.”
UST will still face University of the East, Adamson University, University of the Philippines, and National University.
