UST head coach Kungfu Reyes gives instructions to his players during the game against Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—University of Santo Tomas head coach Kung Fu Reyes remained optimistic despite star sophomore Milena Alessandrini coming down with an injury in the early part of the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.
Alessandrini, Season 80’s Rookie of the Year, injured her left knee in the Golden Tigresses’ match against Far Eastern University but Reyes exhibited calm when asked about his outside spiker.
“Hopefully, it’s just a minor injury, I feel it too,” said Reyes in Filipino Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “I think it’s just a minor one because Milena has a really low pain tolerance.”
“Well my interpretation is that was just a minor injury. That’s my gut feeling but we’ll still for the MRI results.”
Alessandrini suffered the injury in the second set after landing awkwardly on her left leg after a spike attempt when UST held an 18-17 lead against FEU.
UST eventually lost the game in four sets, 25-19, 20-25, 19-25, 27-25.
Reyes added that Alessandrini’s injury greatly affected the team’s morale and that was evident in the Golden Tigresses’ depleted offensive power in the third and fourth sets.
Eya Laure put up 20 points while Cherry Rondina had 16 but UST needed Alessandrini to complete its three-piece offensive puzzle.
“We can’t deny that the team was affected but we fought it out until the end,” said Reyes whose Golden Tigresses dropped to 2-2. “I think they are also regretting what happened because if we were complete we had a chance to win.”
Reyes added that his team sorely felt Alessandrini’s absence in the offensive end especially with the second year hitter averaging 15.7 points in her first three games.
“Milena brings 15 or 17 points a game and although we had someone get 20 and another 16 the next ones were in the seven-point region,” said Reyes.