A tall order has been given to 5-foot-2 libero Detdet Pepito: She has been appointed as the new team captain of the UST Golden Tigresses, which is fielding a younger team this season following the departure of longtime leader Eya Laure.
The reigning UAAP Best Libero, who is in her third year in the seniors’ division, will be the most tenured player in the team that has not only lost Laure but also veterans Imee Hernandez and Milena Alessandrini.
Pepito said she plans to lead the Tigresses back to the top by setting her own standards rather than trying to meet the expectations set by past UST women’s volleyball captains.
“Siguro sa akin, maging natural lang kung paano lang ako. Ayoko yung pine-pressure ko ‘yung sarili ko na, ‘Ah, kailangan ko pantayan ko paano naging leader si ate Eya, paano naging leader si ate Sisi,” Pepito told the Varsitarian. “Kung ano lang yung ako, kung paano ako magle-lead, ito ang ipapakita ko.”
Pepito said being a libero enables her to be more vocal as a team captain.
“Ako as a libero, talagang vocal ako… Ang advantage nito, mas less yung pressure ng libero kaysa sa mga spiker or setter na captain ball,” she said. “Mas marami kasi silang role, so parang mas less yung iniisip ko and nadagdagan lang siya ng pagiging leader nga sa team.”
However, she said that to perform well, she has to ensure she has control over her emotions.
“Captain ball ka, [dapat] mas maging less emotional ka kasi pag nawala ka, mahirap na may magstep up kasi nga bago pa ang lahat…’Pag naging emotional ka as a leader, mawawalan ng vocal leader yung team,” she said.
The 21-year-old libero emphasized the need for the Tigresses, including the roster and coaching staff, to manage their expectations for the upcoming season and avoid succumbing to pressure.
UST has fallen flat in the past seasons, failing to advance beyond the Final Four and being defeated by the Ateneo Blue Eagles and reigning champions DLSU Lady Spikers. Their last appearance in the finals was in Season 81, where they were defeated by Ateneo.
“Magaan talaga kapag walang expectations, pero syempre, meron pa rin kaming goal na kailangan manalo kami every game before umabot sa Final Four,” she said.
Acknowledging that the team’s newcomers lack UAAP experience, Pepito, who bagged the Best Libero plum in the juniors level in Seasons 79 to 82 of the UAAP. said the team is ready for the upcoming season. She said the rookies, many of whom are from UST’s high school program, are already familiar with Coach Kung Fu Reyes’ system.
“Talagang kulang [kami] sa experience ngayon since iilan lang yung natirang may experience sa UAAP… Yung sa system, yung adjustment siguro konti lang kasi ayun nga, from high school, iisang system lang yung college,” she said.
