Before the University of Santo Tomas-National University matchup, Golden Tigresses head coach Kungfu Reyes said that they “would just play volleyball and not the occasion.”
After the Lady Bulldogs defeated UST on Wednesday, 25-16, 25-21, 17-25, 25-14, Eya Laure’s mindset was the same as her coach’s. It was just another loss. It’s over. Time to move forward.
The Tigresses’ captain also tipped her hat to National U, which was the hungrier team this time. It was UST that ended the Lady Bulldogs’ 20-game winning streak in the first round.
“Sinabi ko naman sa kanila (teammates) after game dun sa huddle nung nag-announce na tapos na ‘yung game dahil nanalo na ‘yung NU, sabi ko, mas gusto nila talagang manalo, tinrabaho talaga nila from the start, ang gagawin natin simula bukas, magtrabaho tayo ulit sa training, balik tayo ulit sa court, doble, triple na trabaho pa ‘yung kailangan gawin,” said Laure, who produced 17 points built on 15 attacks and two blocks.
“At siyempre, sa game na ‘to, kailangan natin [meron] matutunan, at for sure naman nag-respond naman ang lahat at nag-agree na may mga natutunan din sila, and ayun na for sure, sa darating at tiyaka sa susunod na games, gagamitin ulit namin.”
Moving on is also a sentiment of Reyes after the loss. He shared that they should shift their focus now to their final game of the elimination round, University of the Philippines, and then onwards to the Final Four.
With the defeat, the Golden Tigresses’ chances of earning the second twice-to-beat incentive are not in their hands. A win by the Lady Bulldogs against Ateneo de Manila University will secure them the coveted edge.
“Ang importante is whoever na makakalaban namin sa semis or sa Final Four kailangan well-prepared kami kasi nga comfortable pa ‘yung pwesto na ‘to, hindi ito tulad noong talagang nag-struggle kami noon papasok kami ng Final Four nakasalalay sa iba — this time nasa sa amin lahat kami magdidictate, kami ang magsusulat ng another history para sa team namin, so ‘yun naman doon naman kami naka-concentrate,” said Reyes.
“At the end nasa palad namin ang kapalaran namin this time, tatrabahuhin namin, especially ‘yung last game namin, at papunta ng semifinals.”
Aside from UST and NU, De La Salle University and Adamson University are the other teams in the Final Four.
Among the three, the Golden Tigresses have beaten the Lady Spikers once and the Lady Bulldogs once as well. They went 0-2 against the Lady Falcons.
With the odds spread out, Reyes does not want to pick his desired opponent come to the semis but reiterates that any of the three teams are beatable.
“Hindi kami nagre-request na kung sino ang kalaban — ayoko ng ganon. Yan naman kami, we will not wish kung sino kasi delikado yan eh, baka yan ang magpahamak sa amin,” he said.
“Lahat naman beatable naman halos lahat ng team, parehas kaming apat nag talunan kami sa taas so anything can happen. So hangga’t ano man, pag tapos ng elimination dun na — pag lumabas na ‘yung kung sino mabunot and yun na.”
