Much has been said about the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses even before the season started.
After key departures from the team following Season 85 – including four of their starters – questions and doubts were plentiful for this Season 86 squad.
Prior to the season, people questioned the strength of the team after the loss of Eya Laure, Milena Alessandrini, KC Galdones, and Imee Hernandez.
The Golden Tigresses’ height was also doubted, even earning them the nickname “Mini Miss UST.”
All the questions and doubts are now nowhere to be found.
UST erased them all after dethroning De La Salle University, 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7. They advanced to the best-of-three Finals on Sunday evening in a roaring SM Mall of Asia Arena with 19,505 fans in attendance.
Team captain Detdet Pepito credited all the doubters for what this little Tigresses team has accomplished, despite being in a rebuilding state.
(C) Nicks Hernandez/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Una sa lahat, thank you sa mga bashers.
“Ginawa talaga namin silang inspirasyon. Unang game pa lang, alam naming maraming kumukutya na ‘ay wala ito’. Napatunayan namin nung unang game, nakita namin kung ano yung kapasidad ng team namin,” said Pepito, who registered 18 digs and 16 receptions.
UST started the season with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 shocker over the fancied, intact National University. And that became a sign of things to come as the Golden Tigresses raced to an 8-0 start.
Now, they are two wins away from breaking a 13-year championship drought. They last won it all back in Season 72 in 2010 with Aiza Maizo, Rhea Dimaculangan, and Angge Tabaquero leading the charge.
“Tinrabaho lang po talaga namin and gusto ko lang pong magpasalamat sa lahat ng naniniwala manalo matalo. Thank you po,” said Pepito.
