IF there was one thing that unraveled University of Santo Tomas' UAAP Season 88 bid, it was that it had no finishing kick to be found.
The Golden Tigresses showed time and again they could build leads and even dominate stretches of matches, only to falter when it mattered most.
More pointedly, in its last two matches against National U, the black-and-gold started strong, but trailed off and took the L, ultimately.
To end the eliminations, the Lady Bulldogs turned in a reverse sweep of UST and then in their stepladder showdown, NU dropped the first frame before winning the next three, including back-to-back extended sets.
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Angge Poyos did not shy away from owning her part in that missing finishing kick.
After a strong start where she scored seven points in Set 1 then four in Set 2, the Golden Tigresses' top gun was limited to just five markers combined in the last two, as the Lady Bulldogs pulled away for the finals berth.
In Poyos' eyes, the issue is never skill, but commitment in the biggest moments.
“[Nawala] ‘yung commitment ng bawat isa, lalong-lalong na ako sa mga crucial points. Talagang need i-commit ‘yung sarili lalo sa mga crucial na mga points,” she told SPIN.ph.
“‘Yun ‘yung isang naging factor kung ba’t natalo kami ng second, third, and fourth (set).”
Lesson learned
It is a lesson that cuts deep for a UST side that may have been mostly intact at its core, but had its depth tested with youngsters like Avril Bron and Lianne Penuliar still coming into their own.
And so, as Poyos looks ahead to her fourth season, the takeaway is clear: talent alone will never be enough.
“Naging lesson learned for us sa tuwing hindi namin natatapos ‘yung game na tuloy-tuloy dapat. Kaya more on mental talaga ‘yung kailangan, ‘yung preparedness namin as team,” she said.
“’Yun pa rin ‘yung pinakaimportante kasi ‘yung skills, nandu’n naman na.”
Indeed, the pieces have long been there for the Golden Tigresses. Now, as it had always been, it's all about putting it all together, especially when it matters most.
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