While they remain uncertain about their future with UST, Detdet Pepito and Pia Abbu are proud of how the Tigresses fought throughout UAAP Season 87.
It was far from the ending that they envisioned, but longtime captain Detdet Pepito and senior middle blocker Pia Abbu know that there is nothing to be ashamed of with UST’s bronze medal finish in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
Heartbreaking as their Final Four exit was, both seniors know that the Tigresses remained steadfast in a season filled with challenges, fighting on to reach the playoffs despite major personnel issues due to injury.
“Super proud and thankful po sa lahat ng mga sumuporta sa amin. I know talagang, actually nung mga slow start po ‘yung nangyari so di naman po talaga kami nag-give up and nag-stick po kami sa system na meron yung UST. Happy po kasi kahit papaano, naka-podium finish na bronze,” Pepito said in an exit interview following UST’s Final Four loss to longtime rivals DLSU over the weekend.
“Happy pa rin kami kasi maraming teams may gusto ng Final Four yet kami ‘yung nandito. Super happy and thank you po sa lahat ng mga supporta kahit sa mga bashers,” added the UST captain, who willingly accommodated the media after a lengthy team meeting in the dugout.
Despite coming off a silver medal finish in Season 86, the Tigresses entered Season 87 with a cloud of uncertainty, with key cogs Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula sitting out after suffering freak injuries over the offseason.
UST’s horrible injury luck flowed through into the regular season, with wing spiker Kyla Cordora’s knee sprain further depleting their depth chart, and a hand injury to Em Banagua leading to rookie Marga Altea’s return as a middle blocker.
In the face of these challenges, however, the Tigresses still showed flashes of their championship form, which included their five-game winning streak in Round 1, along with a pair of five-setters against defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs.
UST also entered the Final Four with a solid 9-5 record, before struggling to overcome the Angel Canino and Shevana Laput-led DLSU in their final two meetings for the season.
“Super proud din sa teammates ko, sa coaches ko, kasi alam talaga namin na tinrabaho namin and grabe ‘yung sacrifices na binuhos namin,” Abbu said.”’Yung hindi makasama ‘yung pamilya namin, ‘yung malayo kami sa kanila, na hindi kami makaalis kasi kailangan namin mag-ensayo.”
“So lahat ‘yun, sobrang grateful pa din kasi sabi nga ng coaches, madaming gusto na kung nasaan kami ngayon and hindi lahat na bibigyan ng opportunity para umabot sa Final Four. And kami, grateful pa din na nagka-bronze and nagka-podium.”
Stay or go?
Now that Season 87 is all said and done, Detdet Pepito and Pia Abbu will now be at a crossroads on whether or not they will return for a fifth and final year.
For now, both seniors remain uncertain about their decision and will be using the offseason in order to catch up on any academic backlogs, such as leftover internship hours.
“Finals week na din po, and sabi din ng mga coaches kanina sa meeting na mag-aaral pa din kami kasi tapos na nga ‘yung season, so ‘yun ‘yung isang priority,” Abbu said of their academic commitments.
If they do return, Pepito will be providing one more year of vocal leadership and elite floor defense for the Tigresses, while Abbu joins a middle blocking depth chart led by the promising tandem of Altea and Banagua.
Regardless of their decision, however, both Detdet Pepito and Pia Abbu hope that their younger teammates can continue the culture of trust and discipline they have established within España.
“Ever since naman talagang ‘yung values ang pinaka-importante bilang player ng UST, so happy ako na kahit papaano na-instill, or sana na-instill namin sa mga bata ‘yung ganong values, which is ‘yung respeto sa lahat ng mga tao, na kahit nga sabihin natin, sa mga guards, sa mga janitors ng UST, marunong kaming rumespeto,” answered Pepito when asked about the topic of legacy.
While nothing is set in stone, Pepito knows that their love for the UST community will be a major factor in whether or not they will be part of UST’s redemption tour for Season 88.
As a show of UST’s highly passionate support system, the senior Tigresses were showered with “one more year” chants from fans and teammates outside Araneta’s South Parking Garage shortly before midnight on Saturday.
“Syempre ‘yung coaches, sila father, teammates, tapos ‘yung community [will make us return]! Ibang klase ‘yung supporta na natatanggap namin. Totoo nga po ‘yung sinabi nila Ate Eya na iba talaga ‘yung UAAP and iba talaga supporta yung UST. So syempre, gusto pa rin naman naming ma-experience, pero let’s see pa po,” concluded the Tigresses’ captain.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.