IT WAS both a year of success and heartbreaks for the UST Tiger Sands, as they saw two of their championship streaks end in UAAP Season 87.
First, UST ended its six-year reign as women’s beach volleyball champion last November. Then, on Sunday, its girls’ team fell short of a third straight title and settled for silver.
However, UST head coach Paul Doloiras chooses to look on the bright side — he hopes these setbacks ignite a fire in his players and fuel their hunger for vengeance next season.
“Kailangan nila ‘yong sakit. Importanteng naramdaman nila ‘tong sakit para moving forward, alam na nila,” Doloiras told the Varsitarian.
“Mas magandang naramdaman na nila ‘to ngayon para more motivated sila, at lalong magtrabaho sila nang doble,” he added.
The championship streak of the women’s team, champions from Seasons 79 to 86, came to an end this season as Khy Progella and Sofia Pergara, both part of the national team program, lost to NU Lady Bulldogs Honey Cordero and Kat Epa in the finals.
Meanwhile, UST high school’s Cheng Dadang and Angelica del Mar fell to Lady Bullpups Vilmarie Toos and Faith Mangyao in the girls’ division. The NU duo also handed the Junior Tiger Sands their only defeat in the elimination round.
“Magaling naman talaga sila and malalim din ang pool ng players nila,” Doloiras said of NU.
Doloiras acknowledged the growing pains that come with fielding a younger team and urged patience as the inexperienced Tiger Sands continue to develop in the UAAP.
“Napakabata kasi talaga ng team ko. Mostly, first timers sa UAAP. Sabi ko nga, sa simula talaga nila mararamdaman ‘yong atmosphere sa UAAP. Mangangapa pa talaga sila,” he said.
“This year talagang lumabas ‘yong pagkabata ng team natin. Medyo inexperienced pa. Binubuo pa natin ‘yon and patient lang kami.”
UST remains the most decorated program in UAAP beach volleyball history, winning 17 championships at the senior level— eight in men’s and nine in women’s.
For Doloiras, maintaining this standard means embracing both victories and defeats.
“Tuloy tuloy pa rin tayo sa program natin sa UST. Hindi naman porket natalo ng isa, hindi na magpapatuloy,” he said. Naka-focus kami ngayon sa growth ng mga bata and paano nila tatrabahuhin na makuha ulit ‘yong title.”
