UST skipper Detdet Pepito believes that their second-round loss against La Salle was a pivotal moment as the Golden Tigresses recalibrate for the rest of UAAP Season 87.
The UST Golden Tigresses are digging deep as they enter the last stretch of eliminations in UAAP Season 87, with the Final Four just one win away.
Currently on a three-game winning streak heading into the Holy Week break, the España-based squad are keeping themselves focused on the goal after they were snapped back into reality with a tough loss against the DLSU Lady Spikers midway through round 2.
After previously winning their last four meetings against the Lady Spikers in the UAAP, UST lost in a highly competitive 5-setter against an Angel Canino-powered La Salle which momentarily derailed their bid for a Final Four spot.
The third of a tough three-game losing skid which stemmed from the end of the first round, the loss against the Lady Spikers was the one that pushed UST to recenter themselves, at least according to libero-captain Detdet Pepito.
Speaking after their most recent win against the UE Lady Warriors, Pepito said that the La Salle loss was particularly stinging for them, and gave them the jolt that they needed to recover.
[READ: UAAP: UST moves towards cusp of Final Four with sweep vs UE]
“Nung pagkatalo namin sa La Salle yun talaga yung pinakamasakit at isa sa mga pinanghugutan namin. After nung talo na yun… For me pala or, ewan ko sa kanila kung ano naisip nila, parang hindi na pwedeng… hindi na kami pwedeng matalo,” Pepito said.
“Kasi nga, nakita namin yung performance ng mga lower ranked na teams na sila nga kinakaya nila, ginugusto nila so kaming nasa taas kailangan namin mas gustuhin… Right now po, very important na yung manalo kami every set muna, tapos sa game naman.”
The change in mindset seemed to work in favor for UST, with the Tigresses racking up three straight wins since.
But it wasn’t an easy task to recover — especially as they were tested mightily by Shaina Nitura and the Adamson Lady Falcons in the game right after the loss against La Salle.
Nitura and Adamson pushed UST to another grueling five setter, which the Golden Tigresses luckily escaped.
But with the Final Four still not a certainty, the Golden Tigresses are hoping to dig deep once anew — just as they did during their recent success. One thing they’re sure to draw inspiration from? Their untiring sacrifice.
“Sa sobrang dami namin yung sacrifices, araw-araw talagang pinanghuhugutan namin yun ng lakas kasi syempre, ito nga, sinasabi niyo na final stretch na so talaga lumalabas na yung mga rayuma, pati ng coaches lumalabas,” Pepito quipped.
“Dun kami humuhugot talaga sa mga sacrifices na ginagawa namin lalo ngayon, kasi parang first round, nakulangan pa kami sa pagkakaroon ng, or pagbibigay ng sakripisyo kaya siguro hindi din ganon kagigil… Itong second round, nakita na namin na mas kaya namin and yun nga, makakapasok [na] kami ngayon ng final four so, ibang usapan na ito,” she added.
The next challenge for Pepito and UST won’t be a cakewalk, though, as they face a desperate UP Fighting Maroons who are still in the running for a spot in the Final Four after their own stunner over La Salle.
They face off after the Holy Week break on Wednesday, April 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.