UAAP: UST hopes semblance to 2010 title team leads to championship

Reg Jurado and the UST Tigresses celebrate after beating the La Salle Lady Spikers in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Final Four.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Having prolific playmakers and southpaw spikers isn’t new for University of Santo Tomas. In fact, the last time the Golden Tigresses won the championship back in 2010, they were led by savvy setter Rhea Dimaculangan and lefty hitter Aiza Maizo-Pontillas with Shaq Delos Santos as the head coach.

This time–amid their unexpected UAAP Season 86 Finals run–is no different with star setter and a pair of lefty spikers in Jonna Perdido and Reg Jurado part of UST’s talented core under the tutelage of coach KungFu Reyes, who has Delos Santos in his coaching staff.

After dethroning La Salle in five sets in the Final Four on Sunday, Perdido and Jurado hope the similarities to UST’s last title squad would also lead to a championship.

READ: UST Tigresses dethrone La Salle, return to UAAP volleyball Finals

“Siyempre isa nga po si Nang Aiza sa mga nilu-look up to namin since madami nga siyang nadalang championship sa UST. Sana nga mangyari na ma-help namin yung legacy niya as lefties, may maputanayan din kami,” said Jurado, who scored seven points in their Finals-clinching 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7 win over La Salle on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Very grateful lang po. Pinaghirapan talaga ng team and ito nagbunga din lahat ng sacrifices namin. Very grateful na ito yung naging outcome.”

UST Tigresses’ Cassie Carballo.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Perdido, who once again brought her A game against La Salle with 18 points and 12 excellent receptions, has a good feeling that they can win it all this year as long as they continue to work hard and play their hearts out in the championship round.

READ: UST coach says Ramil De Jesus gesture ‘like blessing to win UAAP title’

“May feeling na ako na maibalik namin yung korona sa España kapag naging hardworking lang kami sa lahat ng training at sa game po,” she said. “Proud po ako sa teammates ko kasi lahat po talaga individual nagtrabaho and Thank you Lord. Sobrang saya.”

Carballo, who has emerged as the top setter in her second season, has been motivated since the start of the season, eager to prove themselves in the post-Eya Laure era and dedicating the remainder of their campaign to former team manager Engineer Morris Agoncillo of DATEM, who recently passed away.

“Sobrang grateful po ako sa panalo na to kasi talagang pinusuan talaga namin yung laro today and lahat nagtrabaho and syempre malalim din yung pinaghuhugatan ng isa’t isa,” said Carballo, who had 18 excellent sets and nailed the finals-clinching ace. “Dine-dedicate din namin yung panalong to kay Sir Morris at sa DATEM. Sobrang saya ko lang and sobrang grateful ako sa panalong ito and alam ko yung mga sakripisyo ng bawat isa para maabot namin ‘to.”

UST battles the winner of Wednesday’s NU-FEU Final Four clash in a best-of-three titular series starting next week.