AFTER a promising run in the UAAP Season 87 where they made it all the way to the finals, the mostly-intact UST Golden Tigresses are heading to the new season with plenty of expectations and expected pressure to perform at the highest level.
But this is where senior UST captain Detedet Pepito comes in as she was the epitome of calm when the Tigresses came within striking distance of a reverse sweep against the NU Lady Bulldogs, before fizzling out in the fourth set.
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While nearly everyone, especially the new Golden Tigresses, felt the pressure-packed atmosphere brought by facing the defending champions at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pepito found herself surprisingly calm, a feeling she never felt before in her past season openers.
“Personally, wala po,” she told SPIN.ph. “Parang nakakamiss nga yung feeling na yun. Kasi nga, sinabi ko kay Bien [Arasan] kanina sa endline, parang, ‘Ang tanda ko na talaga.’ Kasi iba na yung feeling ko.”
“Parang normal na lang yung nararamdaman ko. Unlike before na pagtugtog ng drums, talagang naiiyak ka na, eh. Pero kanina, parang ang saya lang. Naramdaman kong nasa sarili ako. Parang nasa katinuan ako,” she continued.
Now in her fifth and final year with UST, Pepito shared how far she’s gone when it comes to her maturity and composure.
“Ngayon parang mas buo yung loob ko na maglaro. Syempre before bata ka pa. Meron pa rin doubt sa sarili mo. Na parang, yung pressure hindi mo kayang ma-handle minsan,” she shared.
“Siyempre, before bata ka pa. Meron pa rin doubt sa sarili mo. Na parang, yung pressure hindi mo kayang ma-handle minsan. Parang, lalo yung UST iba talaga manood, pinupuno talaga yung arena. Yun. Ngayon, parang normal na lang.”
Although they ultimately finished the game with a loss, Pepito still saw a lot of positives from the team, which only motivated her more to embrace the leadership role.
“Yun nga, pag-first game parang jitters nga daw lagi diba? Pero sa mga ibang players po, nakita naman na nag-mature. Kinapos lang, pero nandun na yung level up ng maturity. Kailangan lang naming paghirapan talaga.”
“Syempre, hindi talaga madali. Lalo po ngayon, talagang parang lahat na ng teams kayang-kaya, or may ibubuga na. So, mas nakaka-excite siya sa amin.”
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