ROOKIE middle blockers Avril Bron and Lianne Penuliar have started to display glimpses of their potential as the emerging one-two punch in the middle for the UST Golden Tigresses.
In UST’s season opener against National University, Bron made an immediate impact, recording 10 points from six attacks, three blocks, and one service ace.
Since then, she has secured regular playing time, and in their four-set victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) on Wednesday, she finished with three points, bringing her scoring average to 6.33 per game.
Penuliar, meanwhile, stepped up in the fourth set against UP, delivering three timely blocks that helped stop the Fighting Maroons’ late surge.
For UST assistant coach Yani Fernandez, the growing contributions of the duo mirror the dominance they previously showed with the Junior Golden Tigresses.
“’Yan ’yong one-two punch namin sa juniors,” Fernandez said after the win over UP. “Of course, iba ’yong laban sa seniors division, pero tiwala kami na meron silang skills talaga.”
In Season 87, Bron and Penuliar finished as the top two middle blockers in the UAAP girls’ division. Bron earned the Best Middle Blocker honor after averaging 0.66 blocks per game, while Penuliar trailed closely with 0.57.
Their defensive presence was instrumental in helping the Junior Golden Tigresses capture the bronze medal for the second consecutive year.
Now playing in the collegiate level, the two rookies have taken on bigger responsibilities sooner than expected due to Em Banagua’s absence and UST’s need for production in the middle, especially amid the tight race for a Final Four spot.
“Kailangan lang talaga ’yong right timing. I think hindi nag-deliver ’yong mga ibang middles namin. So that’s why meron mga pangatlo, pang-apat, panglima na middle,” Fernandez said.
Nevertheless, the situation has provided the young middle blockers, particularly Penuliar, the opportunity to show they are capable of competing at the next level.
“Na test ’yong kakayahan nila, especially ni Lianne, at malaking bagay para sa kanya ’yan, kasi moral booster ’yan para mag-level up,” Fernandez said. “Kami ring coaches, nakita rin talaga namin kung ano pa ’yong kayang gawin ni Lianne, especially during the game.”
The Golden Tigresses will close their first-round campaign against Far Eastern University on Saturday, March 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
