One glaring issue for ‘Mini Miss UST’ in recent UAAP seasons was their lack of height and consistent troubles with blocking.
Enter Blessing Unekwe, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker who will bolster University of Santo Tomas’ frontline for UAAP Season 87, alongside Em Banagua, Mary Coronado, Marga Altea, and Bianca Plaza.
While Unekwe has shown glimpses of her potential in the Golden Tigresses’ 3-0 start in the 2024 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge, head coach Kungfu Reyes said that the Nigerian native still has a way to go before reaching her full potential.
“Malayo pa ‘yan. Inaayos pa namin yung skills niya. Malayo-layo pa, ine-expose lang namin,” Reyes said.
The 19-year-old Nigerian blocker for UST has produced six points through three games in limited playing time during the pre-season tournament.
(C) V-League Images
“I-expose lang namin nang i-eexpose [sa tournaments] though limited time pa so far, pero darating din naman yan ‘pag medyo consistent na yung galawan,” the Chery Tiggo mentor added.
The addition of Unekwe to the Golden Tigresses’ deep roster is a welcome boost for Reyes and UST as they prepare to face other teams’ foreign-student athletes in their redemption tour for Season 87.
While the core remains intact with Detdet Pepito, Angge Poyos, Cassie Carballo, Regina Jurado, and Jonna Perdido, the Golden Tigresses are set to compete against other FSAs such as FEU’s Faida Bakanke, National University’s Aishat Bello and University of the Philippines’ Sarah Ali.
“Makakasabay [na] kami sa ibang teams na may FSA. Though kaya naman ng local, iba pa rin yung edge na meron kaming matangkad sa team, meron kaming tower sa gitna kumbaga,” he closed.
