DEFENDING Champions UST Lady Jins picked up three wins to dominate their UAAP Season 86 women’s kyorugi tournament opener at the Marikina Sports Center on Tuesday, Nov. 28.
The Lady Jins made quick work of Far Eastern University (7-0), Ateneo (6-1), and University of the Philippines (7-0).
Lady Jins Rryshel Ramirez, Raven Pablo and Geriane Pineda gave UST a 3-0 advantage after overpowering FEU’s Pauline Marquez (3-0, 3-0), Angela Benocilla, (0-5, 3-0, 3-1), and Czarina Dayanan (2-3, 3-1, 13-5), respectively.
In the fourth match, UST’s Laizel Abucay bested Lady Tamaraw Emmanuelle Macasaet, 3-0, 3-8, 3-3, to seal the win against FEU.
Lady Jins Realis Tabiando, Season 85 Rookie of the Year Reign Ragutana and Angel Lorbes defeated their FEU foes to complete the 7-0 UST sweep.
UST kept its momentum in its second game, demolishing Ateneo, 6-1, capped by Abucay’s 2-3, 3-1, 13-5 pummeling of Blue Eagle Emmanuelle Macasaet.
In the Lady Jins’ last game against UP, UST led by three matches after team captain Abigail Valdez defeated Fighting Maroon Mikaela Sese, 3-1, 3-2, before Pineda buried Hazel Antonio,18-11, 8-4, to ice UST’s third victory.
“It’s great na ‘yung mga players natin, even though may kaunting scuffles, they bounced back,” UST head coach Gershon Bautista told the Varsitarian.
Bautista said that the Lady Jins need to instill the proper mindset from the start until the end to complete their title defense bid.
“Proper mind-setting talaga that they know what they’re doing,” he said. “They should not put themselves down if may mangyaring mistakes, because mistakes do happen in the game.”
“They just have to maintain that proper winning mindset and continue kung anong ginagawa nila sa training na ipine-perform nila sa laban. That should be enough for us to win the championship.”
The UST Lady Jins will aim to defend their title today, Nov. 29, at the same venue as they face De La Salle University and National University.
