Tigresses confident despite missing Laure

DESPITE a depleted lineup, Golden Tigresses head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes believes the team has enough firepower to make up for the absence of key cogs EJ Laure and Ria Meneses in the upcoming Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament.

Meneses opted out of her final playing year while Laure was ruled out for the season after aggravating her shoulder injury. 

“Panibagong challenge ito para sa team. With that, kailangan [naming] mag-double time especially sa mgataong papalit sa posisyon ni EJ and Meneses,” Reyes told the Varsitarian in an interview.

The Tigresses will lean on energizer bunny Cherry Rondina and opposite spiker Dimdim Pacres for offense, while hitter Carla Sandoval is tasked to fill in Laure’s role as open spiker.

Reyes said Sandoval is next in line in the rotation after Laure and they have prepared a “special recipe” for the open hitter to get the team’s solid blending and balance.

“Kapag ganun ‘yung ginagawa sa kanya, mas nagigingmatapang [siya], ‘yung tipong wala na siyang hesitation gawin ‘yung isang bagay. Para ma-overcome niya lahat‘yung mga puwedeng mangyari,” the three-year tacticianadded.

The 5’7” Sandoval is confident of her new role and saidpressure will not be a problem for her.

“Ine-enjoy ko lang kasi laro lang din. Tsaka nagte–training naman kami araw-araw. Nakaka–pressure pero hindi na[kasi] mawawala ‘yun. Kailangan [kong] mag–step at mag-mature,” the third-year Sports and Wellness Management student said.

The Tigresses’ PSL stint last November gave the squad a big boost for Season 80 in terms of maturity and exposure,despite remaining winless throughout the competition.

The Tigresses faltered on all eight games against semi-professional teams with imports.

Despite the team’s winless campaign, Reyes saw improvement in the team’s techniques.  

“Napakalaking gain ng mga players doon (PSL). Doon nilanaranasan ‘yung makipagsabayan sa mga veteran at seasoned players, with imports pa. ‘Yun ‘yung ‘di na natinmatuturo sa kanila. This time, alam na nila yung galawnila,” Reyes said.

Before PSL, the Tigresses defeated De La Salle University and repeated as championsh in the 2017 Unigames in Dumaguete City. 

This year, to further hone the team’s skills and technique, the team embarked on a 10-day practice in Thailand from Jan. 5 to 15.

While the team’s problems remain to be its end-game tactics, team captain Shannen Palec said the Tigresses should bring their game a notch higher this season.

“Mayroon kaming isang vision para lumaban kahit kulangkami. Lahat kami naka-experience na ng PSL so madadala namin ‘yung experience [sa UAAP.] Lalabankami, kung hindi hanggang semis, hanggangchampionship nga dapat. Dapat mag-level up,” team captain Shannen Palec said.

Last season, the Golden Tigresses settled for bronze after faltering against De La Salle University in their first semifinals stint in five years.