Skills-wise, UST Golden Tigresses head coach Kungfu Reyes believes his team can stand toe-to-toe with any team in the UAAP.
What’s been holding back the University of Santo Tomas, however, are the intangibles, most notably their apparent lack of a vocal leader.
Reyes lamented the lack of a lead Tigress after notching their first win of the season against the University of the East Lady Warriors, Wednesday afternoon. After cruising to a 25-9 opening set win, the spikers from España needed strong finishing pushes in the next two sets to secure the straight-set victory.
“Sabi ko sa huddle, individually, ang gagaling namin, pero pag pinagsama-sama namin sila, which is magkakasama naman talaga sila, yun ang nagiging problema namin,” Reyes noted.
“Walang gustong mag-take over sa leadership. Hindi nila kilala ang leadership, kung sino yun. Yun ang malaking problem to solve para sa amin.
“Sabi ko nga, first two games namin, equal yung level ng skills, regardless kung mas bata sa amin or mas seasoned players sa kanila. Equal na ang skills pero ang leadership, doon nagkakatalo. Yun ang missing link hanggang ngayon. Yung puwede namin ipanalong laro, natalo kasi walang gustong mag-command galing sa loob,” he furthered.
The Tigresses are in quite a quandary. While fiery open hitter Cherry Rondina is the assigned team captain, the Tigresses have two former skippers playing regular minutes in graduating Pam Lastimosa and third year winger Ej Laure.
As the one with the line beneath her number, Rondina feels that she has a lot more to give to her squad.
“Kasi kaunti lang ‘yung nabibigay kong utos, kaunti lang ‘yung nagagawa kong pagsabi para mapasunod ko man sila.
“Aminado naman ako na may pagkukulang talaga ako sa pagiging leader. Always ko naman siya wino-work out para ma-feel ko din na dapat ganito ‘yung responsibility ko, na kahit hindi lang sa akin dapat, ikaw ‘yung dapat magsimula,” the 20-year-old stated.
As the oldest player on the squad, Lastimosa feels her team needs to communicate more.
“Kasi yung leadership na hinahanap ni coach is yung magko-control inside the court. Communication.
“Actually, sinasabi niya sa amin na each one of us inside the court can be a leader naman. So yun ang hinahanap talaga, communication, yun ang lagi niyang sinasabi,” the BS Education student-athlete added.
The same goes for last year’s team captain Laure.
“Wala naman sa akin yun. Feeling ko lang gusto niya [Reyes] na maging vocal kami sa loob ng court para madala lalo ang team namin,” said Laure, who was part of the 2015 U-23 squad.
But whoever it is, the Queen Tigress must start owning up to her crown.
