UNIVERSITY of Sto. Tomas got a wake-up call in the form of another straight-sets loss to Ateneo, which ended a four-game win run in the UAAP Season 79 women's volleyball tournament.
[See Ateneo endures third-set wobble vs UST Tigresses to make it seven straight wins]
The Tigresses got wins over tough teams in National University and Far Eastern University in that four-match run, but they have failed to take one set from the Lady Eagles in two matches.
Still, UST coach Kungfu Reyes sees improvement in his team and said there is much time to get even better in time for the all-important matches ahead.
"Hind pa naman tapos, marami pa pwede mangyari," said Reyes, whose team fell to a 5-4 win-loss record.
"Kaso instead na umaangat, bababa uli kami para magising. Parang 'Hey, it's time to wake up.' Hindi pa tapos, nag-start pa lang second round."
Reyes was nonetheless pleased with the effort of the Tigresses, who fought tooth-and-nail against the mighty Lady Eagles in the second and third sets.
[See Ateneo Lady Eagles use balanced offense to beat UST Tigresses for strong start in post-Alyssa era]
In the end, the Lady Eagles proved to be too much to handle as they racked up their seventh straight win for an 8-1 card.
"Tinatyaga namin kaso nandun yung nilaga sa kabila e," said Reyes. "Mas nauna kaming kumurap. In a glimpse of an eye wala na, nagbaliktaran na."
"Training lang uli. Tyagaan lang. Marami na kami napagdaanan, gayon pa ba kami susuko na meron na kaming ibinubuga. Dumidikit na nga kami," he added.