The UST Golden Tigresses believe they can only go as far as their execution takes them, and fourth-year setter Cassie Carballo plays a huge role in that.
Carballo struggled at the start of the season, tallying just 13 excellent sets combined in defeats to the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers.
In the first two outings, she found herself in unfamiliar territory for the first time since her rookie campaign, logging long minutes on the bench as sophomore Arlene Waje took over playmaking duties.
But in UST’s sweep victories over the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the UE Lady Warriors that evened their slate at 2-2, Carballo gradually regained the form that won her the Season 86 Best Setter plum.
Golden Tigresses head coach Shaq Delos Santos said Carballo’s decision-making and execution were key in the team’s dominant back-to-back wins, which lifted UST out of its 0-2 hole in UAAP Season 88.
“Happy kami doon sa naging performances ni Cassie kasi, ine-emphasize talaga namin siya sa training,” Delos Santos said Saturday following UST’s 25-11, 25-14, 25-14 win over UE.
“Like ‘yong sinasabi ko kanina, while ongoing ‘yong game, I think okay ‘yong mga set plays na ginagawa niya,” he added.
Carballo tallied 13 excellent sets and five points, guiding the Tigresses to 36 attack points compared with UE’s 15. UST also dominated at the net with nine blocks, while the Lady Warriors failed to register one.
The game also marked Jonna Perdido’s best outing since returning from an ACL tear, scoring 10 points, while Angge Poyos added 11 to lead the team in scoring once again.
Reg Jurado flashed signs of resurgence as well, finishing with eight points.
The middle blockers made their presence felt, with Marga Altea producing five attacks and two blocks, and Avril Bron contributing six attacks and one block.
Against Ateneo, Carballo registered 14 excellent sets, orchestrating the Tigresses’ 49-attack output.
That contest saw Poyos and Jurado erupt for season highs of 21 and 12 points, respectively.
Altea added four attacks and three blocks, while Xyza Gula supplied seven points.
Despite the strong numbers in the past two games, Delos Santos said Carballo’s execution still had room for improvement.
“Pero ‘yong execution, paano tumaas ‘yong percentage, ‘yon ‘yong kailangan namin. So, ipo-polish pa namin siyang mabuti,” he said.
Delos Santos said the Tigresses were still refining their on-court communication — an area Carballo must command for the offense to reach its full potential.
“I think more on communication pa rin kami, para mas maintindihan namin kung ano pa ‘yong gusto namin magyari, especially pagdating ng training,” he said.
UST will next face the Adamson Falcons on Saturday, March 7, at the Araneta Coliseum.
