The UST Golden Tigresses have added seven new volleyball rookies to their roster ahead of UAAP Season 84, which is expected to begin in the second quarter of next year.
UST has secured the commitments of former Junior Golden Tigresses Bernadette Pepito, Athena Sophia Abbu and Renee Lou Peñafiel, as well as provincial recruits Jonna Perdido, Pierre Angeli Abellana, Angeli Marie Bacalso, and Elisha Julienne Apostol.
“Potential naman lahat meron sila. Sa system naman, kaunting adjustment kailangan, especially sa homegrown talents natin,” coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes told the Varsitarian.
All seven rookies are eligible to play for Season 84 next year.
Reyes said there would be a series of training and evaluation for the rookies once face-to-face training starts.
Juniors to seniors
Pepito will spearhead UST’s Season 84 rookie class.
Pepito bagged the Best Libero plum in seasons 79 to 82 of the UAAP. She was also named into the Philippine national volleyball team this year.
“Unang-una na reason [sa pag-stay ko] is ‘yung mga tao na nakapaligid sa akin, mga tao na tumulong and nag-guide sa akin since day 1. And syempre ‘yung sistema na mayroon si UST pagdating sa academics,” she told the Varsitarian.
Peñafiel, a five-foot-eight blocker from the Junior Tigresses, also committed to play for the UST. She averaged 13 points per game for the Tigresses during the semifinals of UAAP Season 82.
“Nag-stay din talaga ako sa UST dahil sa program ni coach Kung Fu,” she told the Varsitarian.
Season 82 junior second-best blocker Abbu also decided to stay with UST for college.
The 18-year-old spiker acknowledged the need to tweak her playing style in preparation for tougher games at the collegiate level.
“There’s still a lot of adjustments to make, like reading the opponent’s offense and attacks, especially that I usually play middle blocker. I also have to work on my service and be more consistent,” she said.
Pepito, Peñafiel, and Abbu had played with cornerstone players Eya Laure, Maji Mangulabnan, Imee Hernandez and Janna Torres during their high school years.
Recruits
UST also recruited three Palarong Pambansa players to its collegiate volleyball team.
Perdido, who played a crucial role for Davao’s bronze medal finish in the 2019 Palarong Pambansa National Rebisco Volleyball League, will bolster the team’s hitter depth joining Laure and Babylove Barbon.
The Golden Tigresses also added Abellana, who was the Best Outside Spiker in the 2019 Central Visayas Regional Finals.
Cebuana middle blocker Bacalso also joined the Tigresses. Bacalso won the Best Blocker plum in the 2019 Gwen Garcia Unity Volleyball Tournament.
Completing UST’s rookie pool is Ilongga talent Apostol, who won top medals and championships in several regional competitions.
They are set join the likes of Laure, Barbon, Hernandez, Ysa Jimenez and KC Galdones in the upcoming season.
The UAAP is looking to start Season 84 in the first quarter of 2022 with basketball. Volleyball events are expected to follow in late April.
