EYA Laure has full faith in University of Santo Tomas head coach Kungfu Reyes and the rest of the Golden Tigresses that they will weather the early storm they’ve been dealt in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
READ: Captain Detdet admits impatience getting better of UST
Not once did the former Golden Tigresses captain doubt what his longtime mentor is capable of, even as UST already has three losses in eight games this season compared to a school-best 8-0 start when it reached the finals last year.
“Kay Coach Kungfu kasi, siyempre, ang tagal ko na sa kanya. Never naman akong nag-doubt sa sistema niya since yun na rin talaga yung nasimulan ko,” Laure told SPIN.ph.
“May mga bagay kasi na hindi naman nila nakikita at hindi naman nila alam yung rason. Silang coaches and yung mga players lang yung nakaka-alam.”
As UST treads a trickier road this time, Laure still makes it a point to stay in touch with her former team to help them navigate a steep road back to championship contention.
Her advice for the black-and-gold? Hold on tight, trust the process and always put on a fight.
“Lagi ko namang sinasabi at nagme-message din naman ako sa kanila privately na lagi talaga nilang panghawakan yung isa’t isa, laging mag-aadjust sa teammates, and yung tiwala sa sistema,” the former UAAP Rookie of the Year said.
“Wala namang magiging perfect na season. Talagang may nananalo, may natatalo […] pero for sure, ‘pag nandun naman kayo sa sistema, wala namang imposibleng mangyari katulad nung mga previous games nila.
“Yung puso nila, nandun na yun eh. Nakaabot na sila ng championship. I doubt na mawawala pa yung fire na yun at laging liliyab at liliyab yun.”
Enough with the bashing
As fans on social media air their grievances and dismay, Laure hopes that the UST faithful continue to be the strong support system it has always been for the Golden Tigresses — may it be online or at the match venues.
With a leader in Reyes who has given UST a pair of finals appearances, she believes now’s not the time to doubt what UST can still pull off.
“I think hindi naman din ganun kaganda kung ipapaalam pa sa lahat, ‘di ba? As a UST community, alam ko na susuportahan at susuportahan niyo yung UST and yung sistema ni coach Kungfu.
“Ang dami namang beses na dinala na rin tayo niyan sa championship. Nabibitin lang pero may rason ang lahat.
As Laure put it, “Sana lang magtiwala and iwasan na natin yung pag-judge kasi mahirap yung one-sided lang lagi. I think yung pinaka-healthy na way is to always support the UST Golden Tigresses as a whole.”
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