HEIGHT—or the lack of it—will not matter for the Tigresses in Season 73. What they lack in size, they’ll make up with speed, agility and defense,
“I am confident that any player [in UST’s lineup] can handle the best of the other teams,” coach Juli Amos said.
Despite giving the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws a good fight last year, the Tigresses lost a close 71-74 decision which pinned them at fourth place.
Calling the shots for the UST Tigresses in her second straight year, Amos looked poised that these España-based cagebelles would secure a spot in the final four after a rigorous training during the off-season.
“To make their [Tigresses] ball handling more polished and fluid, they start their roadwork at six in the morning,” Amos revealed.
Licking wounds
Missing the services of some of the team’s ace players, Amos will have to rely on a deep bench and a high level of maturity to cope with the powerhouse teams of Adamson University Lady Falcons and FEU Lady Tamaraws.
UST will miss the services of shooting guard Katrina Fermin who will be leaving after her graduation while fellow Tigresses Lore Rivera and Reg Divina transferred to another school due to academic deficiencies.
The Tigresses welcomed two aspirants from Team B–Keri Salvador and Kim Reyes to reinforce mainstays Nikki Leonardo, Juvi Torregosa, and Paola Bombeo.
Rookie Angie Cabaylo of St. Stephen’s High School is the team’s lone newcomer this year.
Although UST did not reach the finals last year, Amos said she was happy with the team’s overall performance.
“I am not disappointed because I saw that slowly but surely, they [Tigresses] are developing,” she said.
Despite the threat of the taller and more experienced Lady Falcons, Amos is still confident that her wards would make up for their shortcomings with teamwork and tenacity.
“Now, as long as they [Tigresses] remain composed and at par with the level of maturity of other teams, we should be able to keep them on their toes,” Amos said.
The Tigresses claimed the Metroball Championship with rookies from Team B, but faltered in the Fr. Martin’s Cup where they finished fourth.
The team’s ferocity also showed as they trounced the RP Youth team Under-16, 80-59, in a tune-up game at the UST gym last June 12. Rey Ian M. Cruz
