YOUNG as the new-look University of Sto. Tomas may be for UAAP Season 86, the same old firepower carried by its former ace spikers in Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina was on full display in an emphatic season-opening sweep of National University on Sunday.
Among those tipped to follow in the footsteps of the esteemed Tigresses pair is UST's 5-foot-8 rookie sensation Angeline Poyos, who topscored for the España side in her UAAP seniors' debut with 16 points.
READ: Kungfu Reyes admits shock in UST sweep of NU Lady Bulldogs
She and the current UST side, altogether, may fall quite short in terms of size compared to the rest of the field, but the fire within the heart of a Tigress remains immeasurable.
"Nawala po si ate Eya (Laure) pero mas marami naman po kaming pumalit. Kahit ‘yung height po namin maliliit pero ‘yung skills namin, nandu’n. Kumbaga solid na parang ‘yung ate Eya, napalitan ng mas marami pa," said Poyos.
While she did admit to dealing with 'rookie jitters' in her first act with UST, Poyos knows she has all the time in the world to get used to the seniors' game.
"‘Yun nga, first UAAP game, andun pa rin ‘yung pressure, nangangapa. Pero for me, hindi ako satisfied sa nilaro ko ngayon and I know sa sarili ko na makakabawi ako and makaka-adjust ako sa mga susunod pang games," Poyos said.
Performance over size
Now handed the baton of leading UST's offense, 5-foot-7 Reg Jurado and 5-foot-9 Jonna Perdido filled the void left by Laure and Co., consistently delivering in a bid to put an end to the school's 14-year women's volleyball title drought.
"Kahit nga po maliliit kami, pinagsikapan din po talaga namin na i-exceed yung performance ng mga nawala nga na players namin," said Jurado.
Perdido added: "Naging motivation po namin si Ate Eya na ganito po 'yung laro namin and sana po consistent pa po yung igagalaw namin sa upcoming games."
Playmaker Cassie Carballo, who posted 20 excellent sets and six points in the debut win, relished the luxury of having equally capable and lethal spikers at her disposal.
"For me, hindi naman masyadong mahirap [balansehin 'yung ball distribution] kasi lahat kayang pumuntos and kayang mag contribute. Talagang tina-try ko lang 'yung best na hindi sila masyadong pahirapan so tinitignan ko lang siguro kung saan 'yung pinaka-madali for them," Carballo said.
"Since mas maliliit kami compared sa iba, binabawi namin sa bilis and sa skills na araw-araw naming pina-polish."
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