The UST Golden Tigresses are marching to Season 85 with a mix of veterans and young players, but head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes thinks the team’s strong chemistry will prove to be the difference.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, Reyes said gelling together would not be a problem as the Tigresses’ playing styles complemented each other.
“Well-balanced ‘yung composition ng team,” he said. “Mas madali at mas maganda ‘yung galawan ng tao. Marami tayong promising rookies. Nandito ‘yung players na na-miss natin. Nandito ‘yung veterans natin. ‘Yung composition ng rookies and seniors, well-balanced.”
Joining mainstays Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, KC Galdones, Janna Torres and Maji Mangulabnan in the Tigresses’ Season 85 cast are newly reactivated outside hitter and former Rookie of the Year Milena Alessandrini and promising young guns Bernadett Pepito, Xyza Gula, Pierre Abellana, Regina Jurado, Jonna Perdido, Renee Lou Peñafiel, Athena Sophia Abbu and Cassie Carballo.
Reyes said the team had a long time to prepare for Season 85 since its fourth-place finish in Season 84.
Aside from joining preseason cups including the Shakey’s Super League where they finished fourth and the V-League Women’s Collegiate Cup where they finished sixth, the Tigresses also held a Philippine Military Academy camp in Baguio and overseas training in Japan in January.
“Naging maganda yung impact ng offseason training—’yung chemistry nila inside and outside the court, yung teamwork nila, nabuo talaga,” Reyes said. “Halos magkakasama araw-araw, even sa training ganon din, and hopefully, yung na-build na chemistry is mas tumibay pa, pati ‘yung teamwork and ‘yung [pagsunod sa] sistema.”
The Tigresses’ productive offseason made it easier for the team to replenish the vacancies left by Ysa Jimenez and Camille Victoria, who both turned pro, and other former rostered players, Reyes said.
“Nakita naman ng mga seniors natin na kayang i-fill up ng mga rookies ‘yung mababakanteng pwesto, kaya when they decided to turn pro—and naiintindihan naman namin ‘yun—sabi nila, ‘Kaya naman na coach ng mga rookie, so dun na kami, mag-gi-give way na kami,’ and tinanggap naman namin yung ganong sitwasyon,” he said.
Reyes hopes that UST’s mix of players this year will steer the school to win the championship that has been eluding it since Season 72 in 2010.
“For how many years, nakuha na natin yung two, nakuha na natin yung three. Last season nakuha na natin yung four. Isa na lang hindi natin nakukuha—finals, yung maging number one. This season, ‘yung ang pinaka-goal. Kaya lang, syempre, one step at a time,” Reyes said.
The Golden Tigresses will open their season against the DLSU Lady Archers on Feb. 26, 2 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena.
