The UST Golden Tigresses are left searching in the dark after another loss against the NU Lady Bulldogs.
The UST Golden Tigresses are now scrambling to regain their composure after another loss to the NU Lady Bulldogs.
Sunday's five-set thriller saw NU coming out on top and denying UST an outright twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, forcing the España squad into a one-game playoff for the bonus later this week.
The loss, which sent UST reeling to a 9-5 slate at the end of eliminations, was also the fifth straight time that the Golden Tigresses fell short against the Lady Bulldogs — extending from their second round encounter back in UAAP Season 86.
Despite UST always giving a good fight against the Lady Bulldogs, it was always just painstakingly short of the victory.
[READ:
NU fights off UST in 5 sets as Golden Tigresses miss outright UAAP Final Four bonus]
After the match, Golden Tigresses head coach Kungfu Reyes said that it wasn’t even about volleyball skills anymore — but rather, it was his players lacking the maturity and mental strength to eke it out in the clutch.
Like in the fifth set clincher on Sunday, UST fell flat against a much more determined NU Lady Bulldogs squad.
With the matches only about to get tougher heading into the semifinals, the Golden Tigresses will still have much to learn, and quick, as they will face off against La Salle in a virtual best-of-three semifinal series beginning Wednesday.
For Reyes, they will need to learn a thing or two from the defending champions.
“Sabi nga namin sa kanila, championship material tayo pero marami pa tayong dapat ayusin. Especially… Hindi na sa volleyball skills minsan eh, minsan more on 'yung tayuan kung sino talaga. Alam mo 'yung tayo palang, matibay na. Ganon si NU talagang hinahawakan niya 'yung pagiging beterano nila. Gusto ko i-compliment 'yung mga seniors nila,” Reyes said after the game.
“Sa amin naman may ganon pero talagang kulang pa kami sa mga ganong bagay na outside volleyball. Ma-develop hopefully pa 'yung maturity, babalik din kami don. Kasi nga, paulit ulit namin sinasabi 'yung skills nandiyan na, i-develop natin 'yung maturity, 'yung decision making natin.”
The mental aspect of the game proves even more crucial as the tournament goes on, with teams, especially UST, already nursing injuries at this point of the season.
With more and more aches coming out for the veteran hitters on the side of UST, Reyes can only hope that they learn much from the heartbreaking loss — especially as it makes things harder for the Golden Tigresses.
“With this kind of game, especially nung fourth set… At least meron kaming kailangan i-develop galing dun sa sets namin. Hopefully, madagdagan pa yung mga wing spiker namin na magko-cover up sa certain situations. 'Yung mga ibang wing spiker namin talagang medyo lagari na. Hindi na 100% pagdating sa dulo kasi nga hindi naman kami ganon katangkaran,” Reyes admitted.
“Pero maximum power, maximum effort lagi ginagawa every time na umaatake. Hopefully ma-maximize namin 'yung mga ganong tao namin especially sa mga wing spiker,” he added.
Despite this, there was still a measure of positivity for Reyes, especially after seeing his team fight until the end.
“Very happy in a way talagang hanggang sa dulo nilalaban. Kahit na medyo may mga sore na sa muscles, so, andiyan 'yung mga player namin na talagang nilalaban si UST. At all costs. Hanggang sa last point, sa last whistle ng referee, nandun kami,” Reyes said.
At the end of the day, the Golden Tigresses are able to walk away with key lessons that will hopefully lead them to where they want to go.
“Talagang… Chine-chase namin na makuha namin 'yung twice-to-beat advantage. Pero etong mga learning namin dito na again may babaunin ulit kami papuntang semis,” he said.