DETDET Pepito is not ready to say goodbye just yet.
With University of Santo Tomas headed to a do-or-die playoff for the No. 4 seed against Far Eastern University, the Golden Tigresses skipper is making one simple wish to her teammates: let extend her college career for as long as possible.
READ: NU secures second seed thanks to furious fightback against UST
“Lagi kong nire-remind na, ‘Guys, ayoko pa mag-pro. Please, habaan pa natin ‘yung buhay natin sa UAAP,” Pepito said after their loss to National U on Wednesday that denied them outright entry into the UAAP Season 88 playoffs.
UST’s campaign has been anything but straightforward.
After dropping their first two games, the Golden Tigresses won seven of their next nine before going 1-3 and finding themselves tied with the Lady Tamaraws at 8-6 to end the eliminations.
For Pepito, there is no use dwelling on how they got here, for as long as they will get there in the end - there, being the next round, of course.
“Wala eh, ganun talaga,” she said.
“Lalo ngayong UAAP, grabe na unpredictable talaga yung mga teams. Hindi mo alam kung kanino ka mananalo, hindi mo alam kung kanino ka matatalo.”
Pressure for Pepito
Now with her college career nearing its end, the pressure is much more undeniable, but Pepito wants the black-and-gold to embrace it the right way.
“‘Yung pressure, nandun na kasi siyempre, do-or-die na, lalo na sa akin,” she said.
“Kailangan mapakita ko sa mga bata na mabigat man ‘yung nakasalalay du’n, kailangan naming mag-enjoy. Lagi kong sinasabi na ‘pag nag-enjoy kami, mas madaling manalo.”
For Pepito, Saturday is not just about survival. It is about buying one more game, one more moment, one more chance to keep her UAAP story alive.
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