A LOT IS at stake for the UST Golden Tigresses in the final weekend of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament elimination round — and taking down the No. 1-ranked NU Lady Bulldogs on Sunday would save them a great deal of trouble.
First, the Tigresses will await the result of the DLSU Lady Spikers’ matchup with the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday. If DLSU wins and UST also comes out on top against NU (11-2), a playoff for the No. 2 spot will be played between the Tigresses and Lady Spikers.
Meanwhile, a win by the Lady Tamaraws and a UST loss to NU would result in a triple tie between FEU (8-5) and DLSU (9-4), putting the Tigresses in a more precarious position in the standings.
In that scenario, the league will base on the win-loss record, head-to-head results, points ratio, and theFédération Internationale de Volleyball quotient system to determine the seedings.
“Kung talunin sila ni FEU, e ‘di nakapalaking bagay para sa atin. Pero siyempre, hindi tayo magre-rely lang do’n,” UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes told the Varsitarian. “Whatever the result do’n sa laro nila, naka-prepare naman ‘yong bata natin.”
To avoid these complications, the Tigresses see only one solution: defeat defending champion NU at all costs to boost their chances of securing the No. 2 seed and the last twice-to-beat incentive.
“Mas malaki ‘yong nakataya para sa atin,” Reyes said. “Hopefully talunin natin ulit si NU, ‘yon naman ‘yong tatrabahuhin namin, kasi kailangan talaga nating ipanalo para at least bago matapos ‘yong eliminations, matapos natin on a high note.”
The Tigresses last beat NU in their Season 86 opener back in February 2024. Since then, the Lady Bulldogs have gotten the better of them four straight times — once in the second round and twice in the Season 86 finals, and again in this season’s first round.
‘Peaking’ at right time
Momentum is on the Tigresses’ side heading into their clash with NU, having won their past five games, with their last loss coming against DLSU on March 29.
“Coming from ‘yong loss namin sa La Salle, parang konti-konti pinanghugutan talaga ‘yong larong ‘yon,” UST co-captain Detdet Pepito told the Varsitarian. “Nakikita ko parang nagpi-peak din ‘yong team namin kasi palinis nang palinis ‘yong laro namin. Hopefully, mas malinis pa namin ‘yong galaw namin lalo na sa last game namin.”
Reyes said every win counts this season as the three Final Four-bound teams outside of NU race for the No. 2 seed.
“Maganda ‘yong apat na panalo, kasi nag 8-4 na tayo. Dati kasi ‘pag 8-4 ka, pasok ka na sa Final Four. This time kailangan maka-nine kasi ang ranking masyadong dikit,” he said.
However, the Tigresses acknowledged that they still need to make adjustments on both ends of the floor, and Reyes said UST needs to focus on its net and floor defense.
UST star scorer Angge Poyos said the team needs better decision-making without focusing solely on power, a personal adjustment she made this second round after having inconsistent performances in Round 1.
“After no’ng three-game losing streak namin, siguro nag- reflect lang ako sa kung ano ang kaya ko pang gawin. Parang inconsistent ‘yong performance ko,” Poyos told the Varsitarian.
She added that trust and communication will also be crucial for the Tigresses when they face the Lady Bulldogs
“Sinasabi ko na need ko pa magtiwala, tiwala sa teammates ko kasi nagtitiwala rin sila sa akin pati ‘yong coaches,” Poyos said. “Tapangan lang namin every point at a time. ‘Yong communication namin inside the court, siguro ‘yon ‘yong pinaka importante, ‘yong connection namin sa isat-isa.”
With a lot on the line on Sunday, the Tigresses will need a great deal of mental toughness to turn back NU at 5 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Syempre, Tigresses kami, so mental toughness talaga ‘yong makakatulong samin,” Pepito said. “Patibayan ng loob, patibayan ng puso.” with reports from Clyde Leanne M. Salamatin
