May 13, 2024

UAAP: Detdet Pepito pins title hopes on the grit and tenacity of "Mini Miss UST"

UAAP: Detdet Pepito pins title hopes on the grit and tenacity of "Mini Miss UST"
Detdet Pepito was all over the court as usual as UST got the better of La Salle in the last day of the elimination round of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament. Photo (c) RM Chua

There’s no doubt in Detdet Pepito’s mind that Season 86 is UST’s best chance at a UAAP women’s volleyball crown.

After all, the Golden Tigresses are heading into the Final Four armed with a twice-to-beat advantage and beaming with confidence after a resounding 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 25-15 win over La Salle on Saturday, April 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Yes,” she said when asked whether she thinks this is UST’s best chance of bringing the crown back to España for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

“Kasi yung component ng team na to kakaiba eh, puro bata. So kung titignan natin parang medyo less experienced pa pero dito makikita na nagbubunga mga pinaghirapan namin sa team.”

But before that, the UST will have to overcome La Salle one more time in what has shaped up to be a virtual best-of-three series between the two proud schools. 

And everyone knows nothing comes easy when one is on the opposite end of the Lady Spikers, who saw their top ace in Angel Canino return from an arm injury on Saturday.

Though Canino has yet to be at full strength, she still made her presence felt in the loss and fired 13 points.

[RELATED STORY: MVP Angel Canino returns in La Salle's crucial showdown vs. UST]

With the Final Four set less than a week from now, she would have more time to regain her old form in time for their semifinal clash against UST.

That’s why Pepito and the rest of the Tigresses will be hard at work as they prepare for the biggest match of their season yet on Saturday, May 4.

“Hindi pa talaga pwedeng mag-celebrate nang todo todo. Trabaho talaga kami and another challenge na naman to na syempre kaialngan namin i-embrace,” she said.

“Masaya kasi malaking experience talaga to. Malaking tulong para sa ganitong team na rebuilding.”