Detdet Pepito and the UST Golden Tigresses within the UAAP Season 87 ladies’s volleyball event press convention. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines — With the lack of key gamers Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula, the College of Santo Tomas is trying to unleash the staff’s next-man-up mentality within the UAAP Season 87 ladies’s volleyball event.
Perdido suffered from an ACL tear on her left knee in final 12 months’s Shakey’s Tremendous League, whereas Gula has been dominated out attributable to a fractured tailbone she sustained final December.
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SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 volleyball event first spherical
Whereas it was a giant blow to UST’s roster that reached the finals final 12 months in opposition to eventual champion Nationwide College, captain libero Detdet Pepito stated they will’t dwell on accidents of their marketing campaign this 12 months.
“It’s powerful, after all. We misplaced a number of key gamers, however we’ve accepted it,” stated Pepito. “I believe we’re prepared for something, identical to within the Finals when that scenario occurred with Angge (Poyos). We’ve ready ourselves for moments like that.”
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“There are gamers prepared to step up—you possibly can actually see that within the youthful ones who’re wanting to play. However there are nonetheless a number of gaps we have to fill this season.”
READ: UAAP: All-heart UST Tigresses nonetheless happy with silver end
Reg Jurado, one of many remaining spikers with Season 86 Rookie of the 12 months Angge Poyos and incoming freshman Marga Altea, vows to step as much as plug within the gap.
“Our preparation was a bit quick, particularly with Ate Jonna leaving—she was one of many pillars of our staff,” Jurado stated. “Our preseason wasn’t excellent, however hopefully, via expertise and after a couple of UAAP video games, we are able to attain the extent of efficiency we’re aiming for.”
UST Tigresses’ Reg Jurado. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
“Marga, our rookie, is somebody we anticipate to step up, however it’s not simply on her—we’re all on this collectively,” she added. “I hope that as a staff, we are able to all step up when wanted and produce out the talents required to assist the staff succeed.”
In opposition to all olds, the Tigresses look to surpass what they did final season to return to the highest.
“You can nonetheless say we’re in a rebuilding part since half of the staff is made up of rookies once more, identical to final 12 months,” Pepito stated. “However on the similar time, our core—our first six—remains to be right here, and we have already got expertise. Hopefully, we are able to use that have to our benefit this season.”
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UST kicks off its new season in opposition to Far Japanese College on Saturday at Mall of Asia Area.
