UAAP: UST Golden Tigresses eye momentum heading into second round

Producing a pair of dominating wins to close out the first round, the University of Santo Tomas is eager to carry over the Golden Tigresses' newfound form heading into the second round of the UAAP Season 88 women's volleyball tournament.

After dismantling the University of the Philippines in four sets last March 11, UST one upped that result with a commanding straight sets victory against Far Eastern University on Saturday.

The España-based squad finished the first round with a 4-3 win-loss slate, also grabbing wins against University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University.

Acknowledging that it has not been the best start to the season, UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez said that the Golden Tigresses continue to make incremental progress by being more intentional with their actions, starting with how they go about honing their game behind the scenes.

“Marami talaga kaming binago pagdating sa team namin, especially 'yung proper mindset nila…then 'yung goal setting kada practice and kada game, kasi alam namin, pag kung ano inensayo mo, 'yun 'yung magta-transpire sa laro,” said Fernandez.

Team captain and libero Detdet Pepito echoed her mentor’s statements, saying that the rollercoaster start to Season 88 has taught the Golden Tigresses to be more mindful and present for one another.

“Pag-remind lang talaga sa kanila consistently kasi siyempre hindi naman puwedeng pare-parehas lang kaming iisang mindset, na parang parehas nada-down,” said the UST skipper.

“So kailangan, [kahit] anong sitwasyon, kailangan maparamdam ko sa kanila na nandito ako, kaya pa namin, kaya pa ng team namin. Ganun lang lagi,” asserted Pepito.

Slowly adapting to head coach Shaq Delos Santos’ system, Fernandez, Pepito, and the rest of the Golden Tigresses are hoping that their recent performances catapult them to more victories come the second round.

“For me as a player, nakikita ko naman na nandun na kasi nagmi-meet halfway talaga 'yung players and coaches para sa new system ngayon. So thankfully dahil sobrang open talaga ng coaches…parang iisa pa rin 'yung goal namin,” said Pepito.

“Kudos din kay Coach Shaq dahil sa tiyaga din na binibigay niya sa mga players. Hindi biro sa sitwasyon niya…pero sabi nga niya, kakayanin. Kaya talagang lahat kami nakasuporta talaga kay Coach Shaq,” added Fernandez.

“Talagang every game, must-win talaga. Kasi sa second round, lahat 'yan scouted na…So pagiigihan lang namin kung ano 'yung kaya namin, ano pa 'yung mas puwede naming gawin.”

—JKC, GMA Integrated News