UST co-captain Detdet Pepito is entering the final stretch of her college life — and possibly her career as a Golden Tigress. And if Sunday’s game turns out to be her last in the UAAP elimination round, she’ll close it out against childhood friend Bella Belen, who leads the top-seeded NU Lady Bulldogs.
Pepito, the reigning UAAP Best Libero, played down the looming matchup, saying volleyball is a “small world,” though she hopes her potential last meeting with Belen will bring good outcomes for both.
“Hindi ko siya iniisip, kasi ang volleyball naman, small world,” Pepito told the Varsitarian. “Pero siyempre nakakalungkot, kasi halos kasabay ko si Belen sa paglalaro. Hopefully, maging maganda ‘yong resulta both samin.”
Since Pepito and Belen’s rookie campaigns in Season 84, UST has posted a 3-6 record against NU, including two painful defeats in the Season 86 finals.
Pepito is also wrapping up her final collegiate year as a bachelor of elementary education student, having successfully defended her thesis on April 22 — just a day before the Golden Tigresses sealed their Final Four berth with a win over the UP Fighting Maroons.
It was a huge relief for the graduating student, who still has to complete her required hours of on-the-job training (OJT), set to finish by the second week of May, along with her service learning plan.
“Nakaluwag-luwag kasi hirap talaga e,” she said. “Sinabay kasi ‘yong thesis at OJT namin kaya mahirap siyang i-balance. Pasasalamat ko lang din sa groupmates ko kasi hindi sila nagsawang tulungan ako.”
Pepito admitted she struggled through much of the season because of the tight juggling act between training and OJT duties.
“If ico-compare ko sa dati kong laro, malayo pa talaga, since maraming nadagdag sa schedule ko,” she said. “‘Di naman siya excuse, pero ‘yon talaga ‘yong realidad sa fourth year — mas maraming responsibilities, hindi lang sa pagaaral kundi sa real life din.”
Since completing her thesis defense, Pepito said she’s been able to refocus her “proper” mindset and work on better recovery, especially crucial ahead of their game against NU.
“Proper mindset, proper recovery,” she said. “Do’n kasi ako pinakanahirapan noong may OJT, kasi hindi makakuha masyadon ng pahinga.”
“So hopefully, ma-improve ko ‘yong recovery, kasi kailangan talaga siya. Kasi kahit sabihin mong may mindset ka, pero ‘yong katawan mo pag bumibigay na, medyo mahirap.”
UST enters the NU game with a 9-4 record, half a game ahead of the DLSU Lady Spikers and FEU Lady Tamaraws, who are No. 3 and No. 4 respectively with identical 9-5 slates following their clash on Saturday, which FEU won.
A win against NU would give the Tigresses a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, but if they fall short, they risk getting dragged into a playoff scenario for the No. 2 seed.
Still, Pepito stressed that the team’s full focus remains locked on NU.
“Malaking halaga ‘yong pagkakaroon ng twice-to-beat advantage, pero sinasabi nila coach, kahit anong mangyari, one game at a time lang kami,” she said. “So kailangan muna namin manalo sa NU, ‘yon muna ‘yong pinagfo-focusan namin.”
For Pepito, it also means staying locked in on UST’s redemption campaign, as she remains undecided about whether she’ll return for a final playing year.
“So far wala pa, hindi ko pa siya iniisip, kailangan mag-focus muna sa team and this season,” she said.
The Golden Tigresses will try to secure a twice-to-beat advantage when they face the NU Lady Bulldogs in their final elimination round game at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, April 28, at 5 p.m. with reports from Clyde Leanne Salamatin
