Most teams would deflate after losing a player like Milena Alessandrini four games into the season. The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, however, have shown that there is a way to excel.
The Tigresses have relied on veteran Sisi Rondina and rookie Eya Laure for much of their offense. And the pair have responded with tremendous scoring displays that see them as the league’s two best scorers by a long shot.
To end the first round, Rondina collected 122 points, while Laure has 117. On the other hand, the third best scorer, Ateneo’s Kat Tolentino, has 107.
Last year, Rondina was the league’s Best Scorer after totaling 297 in the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball Tournament. While she is not on pace to reach that mark again, Rondina prefers having help from Laure. After all, they know that they need to be prolific on a game-to-game basis to keep UST competitive.
“Nag-uusap kami talaga, na kailangan talaga natin manalo. Wala namang pakialam sa individual, basta atin ‘yung big trophy. Wala akong pakialam pa, yun ang nagma-matter sa akin kasi siyempre gusto ko talagang umexit ng maganda, with the help of Eya,” said Rondina, a graduating senior.
“Makikita niyo rin naman talaga, ‘pag pumunta kayo sa training namin, nago-overload kami. Kailangan talaga tinatama namin yung mga mali namin.”
Laure is also aware that she has long been groomed to be one of the Tigresses’ pillars, from the moment the UST coaches taught her the sport.
“For me naman pagpasok ko pa lang dito sa UST, gusto ko na talaga tulungan. I mean, noong ginawa ako ni coach Kungfu (Reyes), coach Iang, talagang naka-set na yung mind ko na pagpasok ko ng women’s, ‘yung pagtulong talaga yung gagawin ko,” said Laure, one of the leaders in the Rookie of the Year race.
“Sabi din ni Ate Sisi, hindi namin kasi iniisip yung individual awards eh. Kahit si Coach Kungfu, sa high school, hindi niya naman din ako… Kahit nagkaka-individual award ako, hindi niya – ang sinasabi niya sa akin, mas maganda kung champion or magka-place tayo sa UAAP, kasi yun yung mas maaalala ng tao, hindi yung pag-individual award ng year na ganto, year na ganyan. Hindi naman eh, yung buong team yung talagang magre-recognize.”
Because of the pair’s consistent offensive output, UST sit at 5-2 after the first round, their best record after round one under Kungfu Reyes.
The Tigresses are still far from reaching their goal, but exceeding expectations now after adversity has helped them stay optimistic.
“Talagang napakaganda noong naging development ng team namin ngayon. Ang naging panigt lang talaga, nabawasan kami ng isang tao, si Milena. Pero with regards doon sa standing ngayon, malayong-malayo doon sa start ko noong three years,” said Reyes.
“Sana ito na yung hinihintay namin, na eto na nga, at least andoon kami sa Top Three so far ng first round. So 5-2, so maganda-gandang motivation pagpasok ng second round namin.”
