EYA LAURE may be a standout among the UST Junior Tigresses but two other players from the volleyball squad are now sharing the spotlight.
Setter Maji Mangulabnan and libero Bernadett Pepito played pivotal roles in UST’s four consecutive finals appearance in the UAAP juniors division.
“It is a challenge and I feel pressured since there are already expectations. For me, I need to prove myself that I can stand out,” Mangulabnan told the Varsitarian.
She grew up in a family of notable volleyball players, which she said motivates her to play better.
Her siblings, Vince and Hannah, played in the UAAP for the National University and the University of the Philippines, respectively.
But the 5-foot-6 ace has begun to move out from her siblings’ shadows. She won the Best Setter award in the Shakey’s Girls’ Volleyball League last year and showed potential as guest player for UST’s collegiate squad in the V-League.
“There is higher level of competition in the collegiate league so I need to perform well in order to share what I learned to my teammates in the junior level,” said Mangulabnan an incoming Grade 12 student.
Like Mangulabnan, Pepito bears the weight of coming from a family of volleybelles. Her sisters, Margaret and Mary Jane, were once the defensive aces for San Sebastian College in the NCAA.
But Pepito said she is not pressured of being compared to her sisters.
She admits that her drive comes from the fact that she will lead the Junior Tigresses after Laure and Mangulabnan, who are in their last year of playing in the UAAP juniors division, depart.
“I feel the pressure since there is a sense that I need to show that I am deserving to be a leader and I should have great confidence in myself,” Pepito said.
Pepito snagged the Best Receiver award in 2015 and the Best Libero plum in 2016—a testament that she can hold her ground despite being one of the smallest in the court.
As the Junior Tigresses aim to reclaim the title they last won in 2013, Pepito said the team has been designatingeach training session to a specific attribute.
“Training is harder now. It is the last season for the seniors so we have to go all out,” Pepito said.
“We should be focused on every training day since there is a day allotted for spiking, a day allotted for defense and a day allotted for every facet of the game,” she added.
