UST coach helping Meneses return to ‘best blocker’ form

Ria Meneses of the UST Tigresses goes up for the block. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Univesity of Santo Tomas has been on a mini roll lately with two straight set wins over University of the East and the vaunted De La Salle, but head coach Kung Fu Reyes wants one of his main players to return to form.

That player is Season 77’s Best Blocker Ria Meneses.

Meneses has been unstable in Season 78 and with the second round in full swing, Reyes wants his sophomore to once again become that defensive terror.

READ: UAAP: UST sends UE reeling to 53rd straight loss

Reyes said Meneses’ inconsistencies are not just a physical factor anymore and it’s more on the mental side now for the seldom-used blocker.

“Medyo psychological na yung kay Ria, ngayon pinipilit namin siyang tulungan,” Reyes said after his UST wept University of the East Saturday. “Kaya andito kami ngayon to guide her para maayos, ipaalala sa kanya kung ano ang naging kulang.”

“Best blocker ka nakaraang UAAP ngayon iba na istorya, kung last year na ba block mo, ngayon ang mga spiker nagsilakasan na medyo naiiba na.”

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Meneses started all three sets for UST and scored six points, two of which came off blocks.

She still managed to crack the top 40 scorers in the first round with 29 total points but only 10 of those came off blocks for an average of 1.43 a game.

Reyes said he wants Meneses to evolve this season and double her efforts from what she did the season prior.

READ: UAAP: UST shocks La Salle in straight sets

“Pilit sinasabi ko na ‘mag evolve ka rin kung ganyan ka mag block dati, doblehin mo kasi malalakas na players ngayon,’” Reyes said. “In two years, one year, marami pwedeng mangyari pag aaralan siya especially ng coaches.”