With the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament fast approaching, University of Santo Tomas is dealing with a wave of injuries, forcing head coach Kungfu Reyes to rely on his rookies to step up.
The Golden Tigresses will be without two key contributors this season—starting outside spiker Jonna Perdido and sparkplug Xyza Gula, who typically provides energy off the bench.
Perdido suffered a torn ACL in her left knee during UST’s bronze-medal match against Far Eastern University in the Shakey’s Super League on November 24. Meanwhile, Gula sustained a displaced fracture in her tailbone back in December, ruling her out as well.
To fill the void in the spiker position, Reyes is turning to rookies Marga Altea, Ashley Knop, Kyla Cordora, and Maribeth Hilongo.
“Sila Altea, Cordora, yung Knop, saka si Hilongo. Yun yung talagang inaasahan namin na mag-rise from the ranks,” Reyes said during the Season 87 Collegiate Volleyball press conference on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Big names yung mga nawala, pero at the end of the day, hindi kami pwedeng tumigil. That’s why we train them—para at least, kahit may mga unfortunate scenarios, nakahanda pa rin kami. Tuloy lang ang laban,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite the sudden setbacks, co-captains Detdet Pepito and Regina Jurado remain optimistic, quickly adjusting their mindset with the season set to begin this weekend.
The Golden Tigresses will open their campaign against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Mahirap, syempre. Ilang key players yung nawala sa amin, pero wala, tinanggap namin. I think ready naman kami kahit anong mangyari—katulad nung Finals, ‘di ba? Yung nangyari kay Angge (Poyos). So pinrepare na lang namin yung sarili namin sa ganitong sitwasyon, injuries at kung ano pa,” said Pepito, recalling how Eya Laure played through injury in the Season 86 Finals, where National University defeated UST.
Jurado, meanwhile, envisions a Golden Tigresses squad that will improve as the season progresses, hoping their Finals experience last year will help them make another deep run.
“Medyo short yung preparation namin simula nung pagkawala ni Ate Jonna, na isa sa mga pillars ng team. Sabi nga po ni Ate Detdet, susubukan pa rin po naming punan ‘yung kulang this season habang ongoing. Hindi naman po natin masasabi na perfect yung preseason, so sana po, through experience at matapos ang ilang games sa UAAP, maabot na namin yung goal namin na performance,” said Jurado.
