IF there’s one thing University of Sto. Tomas head coach Kungfu Reyes learned from the five-set triumph over defending champ La Salle, it’s that there won’t ever be an ‘easy win’ in UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball from here on out.
The Tigresses took control of the first two sets prior to a meltdown in the making come Sets 3 and 4. But the España side got its act together while staring defeat in he face down 9-12 in the fifth-set tiebreak.
READ: UST Tigresses turn back La Salle to stay unbeaten in UAAP
“Wala nang madaling panalo ngayon. Lahat pinaghihirapan talaga, especially [kapag] kaharap mo ‘yung defending champion. Du’n naman sa team ng UST, ‘yung motivation nila, sobra-sobra. Pero nu’ng dumating ‘yung third and fourth [sets], biglang na-lowbatt na,” said Reyes.
“Again, we’re happy kasi nanalo, especially nung fifth set na talagang hindi bumitaw kasi nga ang layo na ng score nung fifth set. ‘Yun na nga lang actually ang hinihiling namin sa kanilla na wag tumigil at ilaban lang kung ano ‘yung nasa harapan namin,” he added.
Character is key
For Reyes, embedded within UST’s ‘heart over height’ battlecry is the team’s continuous pursuit of character-building against any opposition — even as the tournament’s last undefeated team at 3-0 (win-loss).
“Ang advice ko lang sa kanila [when] we lose a point, then we lose a set, ang sinasabi ko, do not lose our character kasi ‘yun’ yung nagdadala talaga sa’min.
“Sabi ko whatever the result, kailangan buo ‘yung character namin. Gaya nito, especially nu’ng fifth set, masaya in a way kasi nakikita mong lumalaban, naididikit namin sa dulo, at nag-rerespond sila,” Reyes said.
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