The UST Golden Tigresses are looking back on track with back-to-back wins in the second round of UAAP Season 87.
The UST Golden Tigresses have played inspired volleyball as they dug themselves out of a three-game losing streak and are now winners of back-to-back games in the second round of UAAP Season 87, owning solo third in the standings at the moment.
As one of the leaders of the team, setter Cassie Carballo said they needed to re-center themselves by going back to their roots, and reflecting what they want to achieve this year.
After a tough stretch where UST looked lost, barely hanging on to the Top 4 spot, the Golden Tigresses are finally looking like themselves again, and as they nabbed their first sweep win of the second round, Carballo said it was just a change in mindset.
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“Binabalikan lang po namin kung ano yung purpose namin kasi gusto po naming makabalik sa Final Four hanggang sa, hopefully, makabalik kami ulit sa finals this year. Tine-take lang talaga namin na one game at a time,” said Carballo, who finished with 14 excellent sets in the win over Ateneo on Saturday.
“Medyo nag-struggle kami, nag-three consecutive losses kami. Pero thankful naman ako kasi nakabalik kami sa winning column and hopefully, sabi ko nga kanina, magtuloy-tuloy.”
Though already in an upward trend, Carballo believes there’s more to come from the ladies in España, especially if people remember that the Golden Tigresses were on a hot streak, winning five games in a row before the end of the first round.
With the race tighter than ever for the Final Four, Carballo hopes that UST can bring out what’s left inside of them.
“For me po, marami pa po kaming lapses. Hindi pa namin nalalabas kung ano yung meron kami. 'Yung panalong ‘to kasi, malaking bagay siya for us. Hopefully, madala pa namin siya sa upcoming games pa namin,” she said.
When it comes to her personal work, Carballo said she’s eager to continuously work on herself as the Golden Tigresses seek a return to the finals and hopefully, turn their fortunes around for a title.
“Sinusubukan ko lang po talagang magpa-kondisyon mentally and physically kasi alam kong malaki yung role na ginagampanan ko sa team na ‘to. I’ll do my best pa sa mga susunod namin na games,” she said.
Carballo and the rest of the Golden Tigresses will have a week-long rest before they resume action just before the Holy Week.
They face the listless UE Lady Warriors on Saturday, April 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.