By Carlo A. Casingcasing
THE GOLDEN Tigresses have failed to enter the Final Four for the fourth consecutive year despite a solid lineup this season.
The Tigresses capped the UAAP Season 78 women’s volleyball tournament in poor fashion after getting a 25-17, 21-25, 20-25, 20-25 beating at the hands of University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Maroons at the Mall of Asia Arena last April 10.
The Tigresses were third in the blocking (1.76 blocks per set) and digging (9.93 digs per set) departments behind league leaders De La Salle University and the Ateneo De Manila University.
UST’s Cherry Ann Rondina trailed the league’s top scorer Alyssa Valdez with 223 points in 14 games played while UST captain EJ Laure placed fourth with 208 markers.
Head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes was optimistic of his team’s chances next season.
“What is important now is, skills wise, nag-improve tayo. Kaya lang nagle-level up na lahat ng other UAAP teams so kailangan, meron tayong i-offer na bago. Mayroon naman pero talagang nagkulang tayo sa leadership,” Reyes told the Varsitarian in an interview.
Last March 30, the Tigresses had a chance to notch semifinals berth but fell short against long-time rival FEU Lady Tamaraws, 25-20, 20-25, 15-25, 20-25.
The Tigresses could have sent the match to a decider in the middle of the fourth canto, 14-15, but the Lady Tamaraws ignited an impressive 7-0 blitz to pull away for good, 22-14.
UST ended their campaign with a 5-9 win-loss record, worse than their 6-8 finish last season.
However, Reyes believed he has somehow set the foundation for the next season and UST’s lethal scorers are likely to dictate the Tigresses’ future.
“This season is a good experience para sa dalawa (Rondina and Laure.) Definitely, ‘yung leadership nila mararamdaman na natin next year, third year na sila nun. I think ‘yung leadership ang magdadala sa atin next year,” Reyes said.
