Even with longer route, Tigresses have belief they can get it done
University of Santo Tomas (UST) entered last year’s UAAP women’s volleyball semifinals with a twice-to-beat advantage.
This Saturday, when the Golden Tigresses return to that same stage, that valuable cushion is gone. They face the same opponents with their backs against the wall—no thanks to a loss to La Salle, the very team that flipped the Final Four script for both schools.
And with no room for error, both Angge Poyos and coach KungFu Reyes remain confident that Santo Tomas, a traditional powerhouse eager to reclaim its place at the top, is armed with something just as vital.
“We’ll really put more trust in ourselves—our abilities—this Saturday because it’s do-or-die,” said Poyos, the standout sophomore who has emerged as one of the Tigresses’ key anchors.
The Tigresses would truly have to dig deep mentally in order to keep that mindset, especially after losing in four tough sets to the Lady Spikers on Wednesday when they had the lead in the third and fourth frames before sputtering.
“We’ll give everything—all out. That self-confidence? We have to make sure it doesn’t waver,” she went on. “And a winning mentality—we need both this Saturday to extend the series and reach the Finals.”
Confidence has been integral to UST’s foundation run season, greasing the squad through adversity that ranged from a slump to concerns about the team’s depth. It’s also what has allowed the España-based crew to compete with both the league’s established powers and emerging contenders.
Now, with their season on the line, the Tigresses are hoping it will lead them back to where they were last season, which is contending again for the crown.
No momentum at all
“To be more composed,” said Reyes, setting the tone for how he expects his team to approach Saturday’s must-win match. “But there also has to be hunger—before the game even starts, there’s got to be a belief that we’re going to win.
“In other words, we beat them with our mindset,” he added.
Momentum has also abandoned UST at this point, but the seasoned coach in Reyes is counting on the many sacrifices his charges have put in thus far to spur them against the vengeful Lady Spikers, who are just as eager to reclaim their lofty perch.
“All the hard work, all the sacrifices—we carry that,” Reyes said. “Especially these players. That’s what we bring for the entire Thomasian community that trusts us.
“No matter the lineup—whether we’re weaker or stronger—we fight for UST until the end. We’ll always choose to fight.”
