Tigresses go all-or-nothing with intact roster
With a stacked roster under returning UAAP champion coach Shaq Delos Santos, University of Santo Tomas believes its best chance to win it all is in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.
Delos Santos, the last coach to steer UST to a UAAP title in 2010, makes his return after serving as an assistant in recent seasons. He was promoted back to the top post last year.
The decorated mentor, who also handles Cignal in the PVL, knows this batch of Tigresses has a championship pedigree. Graduating libero Detdet Pepito anchors a core that includes star setter Cassie Carballo, Angge Poyos, Reg Jurado, Marga Altea and returning players Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula.
“Of course, we know we have a big chance in the UAAP, but it doesn’t stop there,” Delos Santos said. “We really have to put in the effort and work hard. Every school is leveling up and we respect how all the coaches prepare their teams. Our main focus right now is preparing ourselves properly. Our performance will depend on how well we were trained and prepared in the past months.”
Pepito, who opted to play her fifth and final year, shares that faith. After a runner-up finish in Season 86—losing to Bella Belen and National University in the Finals—and a bronze medal last year following a Final Four defeat to La Salle, the Tigresses are setting their sights higher.
“We’re not talking about second or third place anymore. It’s about the championship,” Pepito said. “We’re one of the teams with a solid lineup and we only lost a few players, so this is our best chance to win it all.”
Both Pepito and Delos Santos admit the weight of expectations is real. But for them, pressure is a privilege.
“There’s a lot of pressure. There’s always pressure,” Delos Santos said. “But we try to embrace it, enjoy it and make sure we’re effective in everything we do. It’s mixed emotions—nervousness and excitement for the coming UAAP season.”
The coach, who previously handled Far Eastern University from 2011 to 2017 and had a one-season stint with the University of the Philippines in 2023 during his time away from UST, keeps his approach simple.
“For me, it’s about responding the right way because what we’re feeling is normal. So I just focus on the process.”
Delos Santos was pleased with UST’s Japan training camp and preseason buildup, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the Shakey’s Super League after a five-set loss to NU.
“Those were big for us. We’re excited to show in the coming UAAP season what kind of performance this team can deliver,” he said. “The camp was a huge help. All our practice games were very competitive. That experience will help us in the UAAP because we expect every game to be just as tough. We just need to maintain that level and prepare well since preparation is very crucial before every game.”
UST’s title bid will be tested immediately as it faces three-peat-seeking NU on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Delos Santos’ message to his Tigresses is straightforward: perform their best for the UST community.
