In their first five games, the UST Golden Tigresses have used four liberos behind Bernadett Pepito, who is statistically the best receiver in the UAAP as of March 11.
UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes initially started with high-flying rookie Xyza Gula as the team’s second libero. Gula was used as libero in the Tigresses’ first two games.
Since, Gula has been activated as an open spiker and Reyes has shuffled among attackers Pierre Abellana, Milena Alessandrini, and Jonna Perdido to back up Pepito.
After UST’s 25-17, 25-23, 25-20 victory over the UP Lady Maroons on Saturday, Reyes said his bizarre libero rotation allowed the team to fully utilize its offensive weapons.
“We know better,” Reyes said in the post-game presser. “‘Pag medyo may masakit, hindi 100 percent to perform, ‘dun ka magpahinga sa pagiging second libero [kung saan] kaya mong magperform.”
“Kasi once na mayroon kaming hindi pagbibihisin, sa 13 players, kailangan pa rin namin ng two liberos. So [kung] hindi ka maglalaro, magsuot ka ng panglibero para hindi mabawasan yung remaining spikers namin. Dun sa remaining, dalawa pa ang setters.”
The coach said Abellana, Alessandrini and Perdido were all recovering from injury when they were used as liberos.
“[Si Jonna,] masakit ang balikat dahil parang na-hyperextend. So anong gamit niya? Wala. Hindi namin pwede pa-blockin. Hindi namin pwede papaluin. Pero pag ilalagay namin sa regular player, papatayin namin yung isang [rotation spot],” he said.
“Si Pierre last time, nagre-recover siya sa may heelbone niya at apektado yung talon niya, yung galaw, lahat…Hindi siya 100 percent na pwedeng umatake.”
Alessandrini, meanwhile, begged off from playing against UST’s game against Adamson due to a right ankle sprain she sustained the game prior.
Despite drawing flak online for his strategy, Reyes said the Golden Tigresses were supportive of his lineups.
“Kami, nagkakaintindihan kami nang buong buo. Naiintindihan ng bawat player bakit eto, bakit ganyan. Naiintindihan nila ‘yung bawat situation, even the organization, ‘yung community, ‘yung sa department namin, alam nila kung bakit ganito yung diskarte ng mga coaches at bakit namin kailangang gawin.” with reports from Bjorn Del B. Deade
