UNIVERSITY of Sto. Tomas’ dream run to the Finals of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament has been fueled by a handful of factors — from the unwavering support of the Thomasian community and the immense amount of work and sacrifices put in by the Tigresses this season thus far.
But for third-year libero-captain Detdet Pepito, there’s one particular catalyst of UST’s resurgence dating all the way back to the start of UAAP Season 86 which has ignited the fire for the España side — hate.
READ: UST Tigresses dethrone La Salle, reach UAAP Finals
Prior to making history with a school-best 8-0 start and a first Finals trip in five years, doubts lingered for the Tigresses following the Season 85 departure of ‘super seniors’ Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, Milena Alessandrini and KC Galdones after bowing out of the Final Four to eventual champion La Salle.
Such a depleted core and what many described as an ‘undersized’ roster didn’t dampen their hopes on what Season 86 could be for a young Tigresses side featuring six rookies and seven sophomores — with Pepito the lone junior.
This means all players of the current UST side will make their first Finals appearances together, and Pepito gave credit to those who doubted, hated and refused to believe that they could go as far as they’ve done now with more still to come.
“Una sa lahat, thank you sa mga bashers kasi ginawa talaga namin silang inspirasyon. Unang-unang game pa lang (ng season), alam naming maraming kumukutya na, 'Ay wala ‘to,’” said Pepito.
“Pero napatunayan namin nung unang game, nakita namin kung ano ‘yung kapasidad ng team and trinabaho lang po talaga namin,” she added.
No doubts for UST
Grateful as she was to the non-believers, Pepito never lost sight of the UST faithful that had their backs through the highs and lows of a season to remember for the 16-time women’s volleyball champions.
“Gusto ko lang din magpasalamat sa lahat ng naniniwala, manalo, matalo, thank you po, and kay Lord,” said Pepito.
And even with the weight of captaincy piled up on the inherent pressure of bringing the crown back to España, Pepito took pride in being the skipper of one she considers to be a 'promising' team that is now two wins away from championship glory.
"Sobrang honored talaga ako na maging captain ball ng ganitong promising team. Nagpapasalamat ako sa teammates ko kasi talagang trinabaho namin every point, every day, every training. Salamat, Lord kasi nagbunga po talaga," Pepito said.
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