The UST Golden Tigresses are not shying away from the pressure that comes with the big games leading up to the Final Four of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
Many UAAP fans seem to forget that the University of Santo Tomas’ roster for Season 86 is composed of mostly rookies and sophomores.
In fact, the oldest player for the Golden Tigresses is team captain Detdet Pepito, who is only a junior.
That’s maybe why it came as a surprise to many that the Golden Tigresses were able to sweep the first round and are now close to securing a twice-to-beat advantage heading into the Final Four.
But with big games ahead, the question now is whether or not this young UST team can handle the pressure that come with the higher stakes.
For Pepito, the Golden Tigresses are more than ready to embrace the challenge.
“Sabi nga na mahalin nga 'yung pressure kasi nga siyempre isa sa mga challenge 'yun, dapat i-overcome lalo na naglalaro ka ng volleyball eh and UAAP ito,” Pepito said during a recent post-game press conference.
“Mahalin lang 'yung pressure kasi pag wala kang pressure sabi ang boring. Siguro sa experience lang din since round 1 na-experience na namin 'yung crowd ng UST, 'yung crowd ng kalaban, masasabi ko na kahit papano nao-overcome na namin 'yung ganung kalalaking crowds,” she added.
[ALSO READ: "Batang senior" | Bernadett Pepito takes the lead for youthful UST in UAAP Season 86]
The same sentiment was shared by setter Cassie Carballo and opposite hitter Regina Jurado, who have shown great improvements from their rookie season last year.
“Kailangan may pang-counter kami sa pressure which is 'yung preparation namin sa training. Nagagawa namin sa training, bakit naman namin hindi magagawa sa laro?” said Carballo.
“If i-evaluate ko 'yung from last season and sa ngayon, masasabi ko na mas nag-improve na ako ngayon and like what ate Det said na as team, pressure is good so we have to accept it. Kailangan lang talaga ng preparedness para makalaban 'yung pressure,” Jurado added.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Regina Jurado accepts leadership role for young UST Tigresses in Season 86]
UST’s super rookie Angge Poyos, on the other hand, remains as fearless as ever when faced with pressure—as shown by her clutch performances throughout the season.
"Natutunan ko na love the pressure kasi boring pag wala. Na-overcome naman namin and ma-overcome pa namin sa mga susunod [na games] lalo sa Final Four," said Poyos.
The Golden Tigresses will look to back up their talk as they prepare to do battle against De La Salle University on Saturday, April 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao at 6:00 p.m.