LEADING the UST Golden Tigresses’ youth charge in UAAP Season 85 are three first-year players, collectively known as the “Golden Trinity,” who all left strong impressions with their performance during the preseason.
First-year player Pierre Abellana and rookies Regina Jurado and Xyza Gula are three of the seven newcomers added to the Golden Tigresses, which shaved off nine players after Season 84.
The trio earned the “Golden Trinity” moniker after making their impressive collegiate debuts during the Tigresses’ Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Conference campaign, in which UST paraded an all-young lineup and finished in fourth place.
UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said inserting the trio and other rookies into the team was an easy decision, especially after rotation players Ysa Jimenez and Camille Victoria decided to turn pro.
“Ang maganda, meron tayo nitong ‘Golden Trinity’ natin and ‘yung ibang rookies natin as back up for the veterans,” he told the Varsitarian. “‘Pag medyo off ‘yung laro ng mga seniors, then andyan ‘yung mga rookies natin na papasok.”
How the trinity was formed
Jurado, the Tigresses’ new starting opposite hitter, joined UST after she was invited to try out for the juniors team following a strong showing during the 2016 Palarong Pambansa in Albay.
“UST talaga ang pinili ko kasi maganda ang track record ng school sa academics…and naisip kong magandang mapunta ako sa prestigious na school na known ‘di lang sa sports but also in academics,” the chemistry freshman told the Varsitarian.
Like Jurado, Gula chose UST to fulfill her academic dreams.
“Pa-enroll na ako sa ibang school noon, nagchat si Coach Yani (Fernandez) tapos na-entice din ako dahil sa acads, since ‘yung family ko ayaw nila na sports lang ako,” she told the Varsitarian. “And knowing na dito rin yung kuya ko, naisip kong dito na lang din ako para may kasama rin ako.”
Abellana, now a third-year sports and wellness management student, made the team after showing out during the Tigresses’ Cebu tryouts in 2019.
“After ng tryouts, lumapit sa akin si Coach Kung Fu and sinabi na ‘to be honest, maliit ka for UAAP, pero nakakatalon ka,’” Abellana told the Varsitarian. “Pero nag-work lang din ako nang nag-work para mag-improve.”
Jurado said joining the Shakey’s cup was beneficial for the rookies as they were able to show off their skills on a bigger stage.
“‘Di rin namin inexpect na magbo-boom agad kaming rookies,” she said. “Nakikita kasi namin sa social media yung comments na, ‘Sino ba ‘tong mga to?’ So in a way, we wanted to show the people na ganto ‘yung laro namin.”
As the trio continued to impress with their scoring prowess, the “Golden Trinity” moniker was birthed.
“Noong una, nahihiya ako kasi ‘di ko inexpect na magkakaroon ng gano’n,” Abellana said. “Pero ngayon, nakakatuwa, kasi ‘yung meaning no’n for me, pinagkakatiwalaan ako ng mga tao.”
Preparing for Season 85
Heading into Season 85, the girls said they were leaning on lessons they learned during the preseason and advice from team veterans.
“Medyo nakaka-pressure kasi sina ate Eya (Laure), ate Imee (Hernandez) na ang makakasama, pero mindset lang namin ‘yun, ‘di naman nila kami pine-pressure,” Jurado said. “Naga-guide nila kami nang maayos, at lagi nilang sinasabi, ‘Nobody’s perfect, lahat nagkakamali.’ If nagkamali kami, bawi lang agad. If ‘di kami makabawi, and’yan sila para bumawi para sa amin.”
The rookies were also told to stay off of social media.
“Sabi nga nila coach, nila ate, ‘wag masyadong maging close sa mga fans and wag mag-focus sa social media, kasi nakakaapekto talaga ‘yan sa mental health,” Jurado said. “Mas malaki rin kasi ang pressure kasi televised na ‘yung games, mas maraming nanonood, so dapat galingan namin kasi scary ‘yung social media—pag nakita mo lang na bina-bash ka, mararamdaman at mararamdam mo talaga.”
Gula said the coaching staff was also helping them adjust to the pressures of the big stage.
“Malaki talaga ang pressure ng UAAP, so sa training pa lang, pinaparamdam na nila samin ‘yon,” she said.
Gula, a natural open spiker, will be used mainly as a libero in Season 85 after a late roster shakeup, but she said she was up for the challenge.
“Iniisip ko ‘yung positive side, kung saan ba ako makakatulong sa team talaga,” she said. “Naisip ko rin na ako na lang ang magli-libero since may time pa naman ako, may playing years pa ako ahead, so naisip ko rin na ako na lang ang magpapaubaya.”
With UAAP experience as an injury reserve in Season 84, Abellana will be given a larger role as she is set to back up star open hitters Eya Laure and Milena Alessandrini in Season 85.
“Naintindihan ko naman noon na hindi ko pa time, kasi need ko pa talagang mag-adjust,” she said. “So yung ginawa ko, ang aim ko noon ay mag-observe lang nang mag-observe para kapag gagamitin na ako, ready na ako.”
During the pre-season, the Tigresses held a Philippine Military Academy camp in Baguio and overseas training in Japan in January, which helped the rookies develop stronger chemistry with their older teammates.
“Mas naging strong ‘yung bond namin ngayon kesa before, and na-build ‘yung discipline and teamwork namin noong offseason,” Jurado said. “Naging mas special ‘yung team kasi equal kami. I can say na mas buo kami, walang division.”
Laure said she was looking forward to playing alongside the new Tigresses in Season 85.
“Malaki talaga ang potential ng mga rookies ngayon, and hopefully ma-maximize sila pagdating ng UAAP,” she told the Varsitarian. “Sana mabigay talaga ‘yung confidence, and of course magsusuportahan naman talaga kami. We got each other’s back. Syempre, bago sila sa UAAP stage, pero s’yempre, kaya naman nandito kaming mga seniors para i-guide din sila.”
And the “Golden Trinity” is ready.
“Kahit sinasabi na mas maganda ‘yung lineup ngayon, gumaling din naman ibang teams,” Jurado said. “Pero ang difference, ‘yung hardwork and tiyaga talaga namin.”
“Ang special sa team, hindi lang first six ‘yung maaasahan,” Gula said. “Pati ‘yung bench, aasahan na makakapuntos, makaka-contribute sa team.”
The Golden Tigresses will open their season against the DLSU Lady Archers on Feb. 26, 2 p.m., at the Mall of Asia Arena.
