Golden Tigresses post worst record in 24 years; land 7th out of 8 teams

The UST Golden Tigresses crashed to seventh place in the UAAP volleyball tournament, their worst performance since the Final 4 format was introduced, despite a strong showing from Cherry Ann Rondina.

Rondina carried the scoring load throughout the season, which was beset by injuries. 

UST’s 6-25, 23-25, 23-25 loss to the Adamson University Lady Falcons last Apr. 14 capped off a lackluster season which saw the Tigresses win four out of 14 games. 

Before bagging bronze last season, UST had consistently been clinging to fifth and sixth-place finishes from Seasons 75 to 78.

Head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes Jr. said in a post-game interview that the loss of their veteran players took a heavy toll on their performance this year.

“‘Yung outcome ng laro, heto na ‘yung pinakasagot diyan. Lahat ng struggles, ‘yung injuries, frustrations and everything. Heto na ‘yung outcome. ‘Yung lack of experience din [kasi] UAAP is a different game,” he said.

To start off, UST played without main skipper EJ Laure, who was ruled out of the season after a chronic shoulder injury. 

Libero Rica Jane Rivera and Fil-Italian rookie Milena Alessandrini went down with a right knee injury and partial shoulder tear, respectively, three games into the season against the Ateneo de Manila University last Feb. 13. 

Both players missed four games before returning to action against the University of the East last Mar. 7.

Reyes also pointed out the inability of the team to close out sets in crucial games. 

“Didikit kami, lalamang kami pero wala kaming panapos. ‘Yung last two points lagi hindi namin makuha-kuha,” he said.

UST’s five-set losses to Ateneo de Manila University late in the season and De La Salle University in the first round proved pivotal in its campaign for a slot in the Final Four. 

The Ateneo loss reduced the Tigresses’ chances to a playoff for the fourth spot at most.   

But if there was an upside in the Tigresses’ season, it was Rondina.  

After tallying 21.1 points per game en route to being the league’s leading scorer in the elimination round, she said the season has been a learning experience for the team.

“Alam ko na ‘yung dapat gawin at ano ‘yung mas ta-trabahuhin namin. Mas okay na nangyari ‘to kaysa nag-exhibit ako sa last playing year ko na ganito pa rin. Hopefully, sa Season 81 makapasok kami,” the 5’5” hitter said.

She added that the lack of consistency became a huge loop hole in UST’s campaign, especially in terms of delivering the finishing blows.

Revamp

Despite the disappointing finish, the future looks bright for the Tigresses with the entry of former UAAP girls’ Most Valuable Player Eya Laure and former Best Setter MajiMangulabnan. Both had committed to join the team before.

EJ is also expected to return to the pool next year, an offensive boost the team greatly missed in this year’s campaign.  

Reyes said the coaches will use a different approach in determining the final lineup for Season 81.  

Other homegrown talents from the juniors’ division andrecruits from different schools will also make up the pool.

“[H]indi na pagalingan lang, talagang makikipagbunongbraso sila [at] dapat nakikipagpatayan sila sa slot nila.They all got the skills pero mas maraming papasok namga bata. Kailangan mong i-defend [‘yung] territory kasiback to zero,” the three-year tactician said.