Reg Jurado sets personal performance aside in favor of teamwork as UST chases UAAP title

At the end of each match, UST veteran wing spiker Reg Jurado only has one stat she cares about — and that is whether or not the Golden Tigresses were the team to win three sets.

That is, nothing matters more than the win.

Having taken a backseat in favor of sophomore hitter Angge Poyos, who has been the focal point of UST’s offense since her tremendous rookie year in Season 86, Jurado has been working in the shadows and delivering big games for UST in UAAP Season 87.

But don’t get anything wrong, Jurado doesn’t mind that set up at all.

During their win against the UP Fighting Maroons at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, Jurado had herself another game that set her up with a team-high 22 points, to go along with eight excellent digs and three excellent receptions.

[RELATED: Red-hot UST clinches fourth straight win after overpowering UP in UAAP Season 87]

She wasn’t about to toot her own horn, though, as she focused on the bigger detail, and that was helping her team get the win.

As defenses focus most of their energy on defending Poyos, Jurado is happy to ride the coattails of her junior.

“Thankful lang din kasi nakatulong ako kay Angge kasi siya talaga madalas yung nakaka-score. Di ko na rin iniisip yan,” said Jurado of her scoring.

“Di na ako nagde-dwell sa ganyan kasi naglalaro lang naman ako at pag maglaro ako, kusang lalabas yung performance ko.”

True enough, Jurado, along with Poyos, ripped the Fighting Maroons in four sets. 

Save for a hiccup in the third where they relinquished the chance to sweep UP, the Golden Tigresses were firmly in control.

Jurado, among the leaders of the team, said that UST just needed to refocus in the fourth set, which they took with ease to complete the 25-11, 25-23, 23-25, 25-12 win.

“Ni-remind ko lang po sila na maging calm lang, kasi siyempre, pag sinasabayan namin yung kalaban, doon kami nagkakagulo. Good thing nung fourth set, na-apply naman namin yun at nakinig kami sa sistema ng coaches, sa kung ano yung gusto nilang gawin namin,” said Jurado. 

“For the next games, kung ganun yung gagawin namin, for sure, mananalo't mananalo rin,” she added.

When it comes to mentality, Jurado believes it’ll just be about contributing to the team as a whole, especially as the Golden Tigresses seek a return to the Finals. However, it will be a bigger challenge with Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula out due to injury.

“Goal ko lang talaga is matulungan yung team, lalo na't from last season, nawalan kami ng isang key player. Yun lang talaga [yung mentality ko], makatulong sa lahat ng aspects at department sa volleyball,” she said.
Jurado and the Golden Tigresses are currently cruising as they ride a four-game win streak. But the season is far from over as two more games remain in their first round campaign — including a rematch against NU to close out their

first half of the season.

But first, the Golden Tigresses face the determined Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, March 9, at the Mall of Asia Arena.