November 5, 2011, 11:12 p.m.: THE TIGER Spikers are out to defend their title while the Lady Spikers seek to reclaim theirs. In any case, the UST volleyball squads can’t wait for the UAAP hostilities to begin.
The men’s team is gunning for its fifth consecutive title, despite falling against the Far Eastern University in the finals of the pre-season Philippine Sports Commission-University Games (Unigames) in Roxas City, Capiz last week.
The women’s squad is seeking revenge after losing the De La Salle University in their championship match last season.
New head coach Odjie Mamon believes that the Lady Spikers, led by four veterans, would roar back all the way to the UAAP finals, despite crashing out of the Unigames quarterfinal.
Season 72 Finals MVP Rhea Dimaculangan, along with new team captain Maika Ortiz and beach volleyball duo Maruja Banaticla and Judy Caballejo, is expected to lead the charge for the Lady Spikers, who last won the title in 2009.
“We loss in the Unigames because the players were a little bit erratic. They had a problem with confidence because they didn’t want to commit any error on court. Even the maturity of the (rookies) had to improve,” Mamon said.
But Mamon was confident that with a solid line-up, his wards could regain the championship.
With the Lady Spikers missing the services of Season 73 best scorer and receiver Aiza Maizo, Mamon would have to rely on promising rookies Carmela Tunay, Jessey De Leon, and Ingrid Reyes, and middle blockers Midori Hirotsuji and setter Sarah Jane Gonzales.
One problem for the team is conditioning, which Mamon blamed on the lack of a regular training facility.
“Our training decreased by about 40 percent because we had to move around (all the time),” he said.
To win the title, the team would have to be tough and consistent on its service and overall floor defense.
“I [still] have one month to prepare before the start of the UAAP, and three months for the team to peak because the UAAP volleyball tournament is a three-month long competition, so I think it’s more than enough time to correct our mistakes,” he said.
Gunning for 5
The Tiger Spikers are eyeing history with a fifth straight championship this season.
Coach Emil Lontoc downplayed his team’s loss in the Unigames, saying it’s the UAAP that mattered.
“It’s okay to lose in the Unigames because our focus really is on the UAAP. And most of the time, those who win in the Unigames end up losing in the UAAP. What I’m sure of is we could still win the championship in the UAAP,” he said.
The fiery quartet of Season 73 Finals’ MVP and new team captain Jayson Ramos, Salvador Juan Depante, Kerr Ucang, and last year’s Best Receiver Paul Jan Doloiras will lead the UST campaign.
Training venue was also a problem for the squad that racked up an excellent 13-1 win-loss card in last season’s elimination round.
So far, Depante said he and his teammates had to make do with shorter training sessions at Central Colleges of the Philippines.
“Our drills are shorter because we have to fit everything within the short period allotted for us,” he said.
But Ramos remained optimistic of his team’s chances, despite the departure of Season 73 MVP John Paul Torres, and veterans Harby Ilano and Henry Pecaña.
“I believe we could win the championship again. Our new players are hungry. We lost some players, but we got new ones who are determined to win. We’re going for five-peat,” Ramos said.
The Tiger Spikers will be led by mainstays Paul John Romero, middle blockers Christopher Rejuso, Romnick Rico and Christian Arbasto, and beach volleyball standout Mark Gil Alfafara.
Promising rookies include Patrick Balse, who is from the notable volleyball clan of the Balses, Iloilo prized recruit Ervin Clyde Buenaventura, and Thomasian Goodwill Games’ Best Attacker Mark Pangan. Alexis U. Cerado and Chenny V. Ramos
