University of the Philippines fell short in its UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball opener last Sunday, giving Far Eastern University its first win since May 10, 2022 to break an 11-game skid, 25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 26-24.
With the downer result, debuting head coach Shaq Delos Santos had a lot of realizations post-game.
The Fighting Maroons had a big chance to extend the match to a deciding five set after reaching set point in the fourth off an Alyssa Bertolano crosscourt hit, 24-23.
But Alyzza Devosora managed to score back-to-back for the Lady Tamaraws before Steph Bustrillo flunked her attempt to give FEU the four-set victory.
“Yung inexpect namin na dapat ilaro namin hindi naibigay 100 percent but all in all naman, maganda naman yung ginawa namin na laban,” said Delos Santos, making his comeback in the UAAP after six years, last coaching his alma mater FEU.
“Good thing, marami rin akong naging realization, marami kaming kailangan iadjust pa sa next trainings namin,” he added.
Delos Santos wants the Fighting Maroons to have the same mentality he had when he was still a player with FEU and even until his years as a national team athlete.
He was a three-time UAAP champion during his five-year stay with the Tamaraws from 1995 to 1999, taking the crowns in Seasons 59, 60, and 62.
“Kung babalikan ko yung UAAP ko yung time na yun of course galing ako FEU, sinasabi ko nga sa mga players na kung gusto niyong manalo, ilaban natin talaga yan,” shared Delos Santos, who also coaches Cignal in the Premier Volleyball League.
“Dapat may angas, may yabang, may dating.
“Yun kasi syempre experience din yun. Sa team namin ipinapaadopt pa lang namin yung ganong klase ng sistema o galawan,” he added.
Having that “angas”, “yabang”, and “dating” inside the court is a must-have for winners, according to the veteran mentor.
And those attributes, the fighting spirit regardless what the scoreboard says, were a big help during his title-clinching years.
“Syempre mababait yung players namin eh pero sabi ko nga, pagdating sa court kailangan medyo iba yung level kasi kailangan ipakita mo sa kanila na agresibo ka talaga pumuntos, pumalo, bumlock, o dumepensa. Lahat ng aspects talagang kailangan i-all out mo,” said Delos Santos.
“Kasi kami sa experience namin, doon din namin nakuha na talagang kaya mong ipanalo o mananalo ka kahit anong sitwasyon yan.”
