By: Christian David Ruiz
Aside from their typically undersized yet high-leaping wing spikers, University of Santo Tomas is also known for producing high-caliber middle blockers like Imee Hernandez, Ria Meneses, Maika Ortiz, and Ging Balse-Pabayo.
Today, another prodigy is rising from the university in España, as Alas Pilipinas Under-18 middle blocker Avril Bron has shown great potential.
Like her predecessors, Bron was part of the national team that competed in the 22nd Princess Cup SEA U18 Women’s Volleyball Championship and the 5th Asian Women’s U18 Volleyball Championship earlier this year.
“Nung nag-Alas parang pag balik namin dito, parang mas [tumaas] yung confidence ko, tas parang naging motivation ko sya para to do better,” the 17-year-old middle blocker, who is the younger sister of Growling Tigress Agatha, said.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Bron scored a remarkable 17 points, including eight massive blocks, in the Junior Golden Tigresses’ four-set, vengeful victory—20-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-20—over their first-round tormentor, Far Eastern University.
“Gusto ko lang mag thank you sa setter ko, si Aneeza, kasi nagtiwala po sya sakin. Mas gagalingan ko pa sa ibang game—sa mga susunod pa namin na games,” she shared after delivering her best performance yet in the tournament.
During the pre-season, the 5-foot-8 net defense specialist was awarded Best Middle Blocker in the 2024 PNVF Under-18 Girls’ Volleyball Championship, where the Junior Golden Tigresses also clinched the gold medal.
Despite her potential to win another Best Middle Blocker award, Bron chose to focus on a greater goal: the highly coveted UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Volleyball title.
Like her sister Agatha did for the Growling Tigresses last season, Avril wants to have her own UAAP hardware.
“Yung individual award ano lang po bonus lang po yun samin, bale yung goal po talaga namin is championship po. Kung magka-award man po bonus na lang po yun,” Bron said.
