The young UST Golden Tigresses have secured the first Final Four slot in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament, after defeating the Adamson Lady Falcons.
After their first defeat in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses showed their grit once more after taking down Adamson University in four sets, 22-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, April 3.
The bounce-back win was more than just a confidence booster for the Golden Tigresses as UST also sealed the first Final Four slot in the tournament.
Heading into the season, not many fans expected the Golden Tigresses to be in this position—currently first with a 9-1 record.
This came even after the departure of several of its stars such as Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, and Milena Alessandrini.
The reason for the team’s success? Coach Kungfu Reyes linked it back to UST’s grassroots program, which has come to fruition this Season 86 with the arrival of Angge Poyos and other players from the UST high school.
“Actually, ito 'yung lagi namin ibinibida kung anong program meron kami sa UST, ‘yung grassroots program. Sabi nga, nagdedevelop talaga kami ng players,” Reyes said during the post-game press conference.
“Ito lang, nagkakataon na nagkakaroon kami na halos nag-aabot na 'yung piyesa namin kasi nung lumabas si Eya [Laure], ang pinaka-bata na sila Regina [Jurado] na eh, so itong mga ito nag-aabot na,” he added.
A huge part of the Golden Tigresses’ success this season also comes from the superb performances by Poyos, who set her new career-high and UAAP rookie scoring record against Adamson with 31 points.
Reyes admitted his surprise at the performances of Poyos and the rest of the UST rookies but lauded all their hard work so far in the season to achieve this feat.
“Kasi nung naglaro sila nung high school UAAP, hindi ganun ka stunning, hindi ka ma-iimpress. So ang ano lang namin is mag-mature kasi nga nandun naman 'yung skills,” said Reyes. “Siguro masyadong malaking venue 'yung UAAP para sa kanila kasi nga coming from provinces tapos pandemic, so nung nag-open ulit, medyo parang na-shock na ganito kalaki 'yung venue, 'yung UAAP.”
“Nagugulat lang kami, ito kasi nandito na kami, nagugulat kami sa result pero 'yung sa galaw nila [hindi] kasi 'yun na 'yun eh. Ang gauge talaga namin ito, so lumalabas na 'yung pinaghihirapan nila,” he added.
[ALSO READ: Angge Poyos on 31-point UAAP rookie scoring record: 'Hindi ko naramdaman na nandun na pala ako']
The Golden Tigresses will look to grab their 10th win in the season as they face the University of the Philippines on Wednesday, April 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena at 2:00 p.m.