Back in UAAP Season 81, the UST Golden Tigresses had Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina as the team’s reliable combination.
It seems as though the Tigresses will have the same dynamic of the old tandem with UST rookie Yprhil Tapia slowly coming to form.
UST team captain Laure praised Tapia who stepped up for the Tigresses on Saturday’s game against the FEU Lady Tamaraws with a career-high 16 points from 14 attacks.
“Happy ako kasi onti-onti na lang talaga, pa-onti-onti nakukuha na din ni Tapia ‘yung kanyang confidence ‘pag nagpe-perform, of course, kasi ilang games na siyang nandiyan,” said Laure, who tallied 19 markers.
Tapia surpassed her 11-point performance in UST’s first-round match against the Adamson Lady Falcons and Ateneo Lady Eagles.
“Isa siya sa mga as in nag so-score talaga para sa team,” she added.
Tapia is currently averaging 9.60 ppg in the second round, a vast improvement from her 5.83 ppg average from the first round.
The 5-foot-4 rookie, who emerged as the player of the game in their recent matchup against FEU, said that Laure and the coaches help her improve her performance every play.
“Gina-guide po ako ni ate Eya sa loob ng court, tas si coach Kung Fu at ‘yung mga coaches po sa labas [ng court],” said Tapia.
“Nakuha po ‘yung panalo dahil ‘di lang po sa akin, nakuha ko po ‘yun dahil po pinag trabahuhan, tiyaka tulong-tulong po kami ngayon,” she added.
Tapia, Laure and the UST Golden Tigresses will face the UE Lady Warriors on Tuesday, 10 a.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena. Anna Clarissa Barlam
