Bernadett Pepito (left) and Regina Jurado will lead a younger core of the rebuilding Tigresses. —UAAP MEDIA
After three veteran gamers graduated from its roster, the College of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses started the method of rebuilding round its younger holdovers with the addition of latest faces that can full the group forward of the College Athletic Affiliation of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 subsequent 12 months.
However an early glimpse of the Tigresses’ new look reveals that the squad continues to be in very succesful arms regardless of the departures.
UST clinched the bronze medal within the not too long ago concluded Shakey’s Tremendous League Nationwide Invitationals, a surprising feat after solely being tapped as a last-minute substitute to the Nationwide College Woman Bulldogs.
UST swept College of Perpetual Assist, 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 25-13, in Sport 2 behind the efforts of latest captain Bernadett Pepito, rising star Regina Jurado and rookies Angeline Poyos and Xyza Gula.
“Good factor the abilities are already there and our core from final season continues to be intact so it wasn’t that arduous for us,” longtime Tigresses coach KungFu Reyes mentioned of his wards, who completed the eliminations with a 5-1 (win-loss) card.
UST stars Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez and Milena Alessandrini exhausted their enjoying years, with Laure and Hernandez bringing their abilities to the skilled league.
“No less than our new faces gained a medal for our group after 4 years. It’s a brand new chapter for this group. They’re very younger however they’re feisty like chili peppers,” mentioned Reyes.
And his younger gamers are embracing the chance to step up and lead the España-based squad within the post-Eya Laure period.
“There’s stress however I’ve to step up contained in the court docket. My rookie season is over and now, I’ve to be one of many dependable gamers on my group,” mentioned Jurado after scoring 19 factors of their bronze-clinching sweep of Perpetual.
Regardless of being an incoming rookie, Poyos has not been shy in steering her group to victories together with her attacking, contributing 29 factors in a good five-set loss in opposition to UAAP champion La Salle within the eliminations and 26 factors of their podium-clinching victory.
“Coach promised us that he gained’t surrender on us. So for us gamers, we don’t wish to let him down. In my opinion, I must carry out regardless that I’m a rookie,” mentioned Poyos, who was hailed First Finest Outdoors Spiker of the event.
“We’re not stunned together with her output. We’re joyful to see her transition from highschool to varsity… We’re not improper in maintaining them on our group, we’re simply ready on the proper time for them to unlock their full potential from all their onerous work and sacrifices,” Reyes mentioned. INQ
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