The UST Golden Tigresses’ immediate future just got brighter as captain Detdet Pepito and lefty hitter Jonna Perdido are staying for one more year.
It didn’t take long for captain Detdet Pepito and outside hitter Jonna Perdido to decide on their future with the UST Golden Tigresses.
Days after their UAAP Season 87 exit at the hands of the DLSU Lady Spikers, UST-IPEA director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. confirmed on social media that both senior Tigresses will be returning for one final dance with UST for Season 88.
“[One] More Year,” read Cansancio’s Facebook post, which was attached with a photo of him, Pepito, and Perdido.
Pepito continued to shine as the Tigresses’ captain and libero throughout their challenging Season 87 campaign, ranking second in digs (3.96 per set) and fourth in receptions (42.38 percent efficiency) throughout the elimination rounds.
The Tigresses’ captain left it all on the floor in the Final Four last May 3, putting up 25 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions in UST’s season-ending 22-25, 25-11, 21-25, 21-25 loss to the Lady Spikers at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
During her exit interview, Pepito admitted that the UST community would be a crucial factor if she returned for a fifth and final year.
“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,” she said following a lengthy team meeting in the Araneta Coliseum dugouts.
Perdido was one of UST’s key losses for Season 87, having suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear during the Tigresses’ Shakey’s Super League Pre-Season Championship bronze medal match last November. No doubt that she will have an extra bout of motivation when she returns to the UAAP taraflex a year from now.
Big boost for UST
On both a talent and leadership standpoint, having these two key seniors provides a crucial boost to UST’s redemption tour for Season 88.
Pepito, a two-time UAAP Best Libero, will be providing another year of stellar floor defense for the Tigresses, along with her veteran wisdom and highly vocal leadership style.
Perdido, meanwhile, forms part of UST’s offensive trio when healthy, along with former Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos and incoming senior Reg Jurado. The lefty outside hitter was UST’s third-leading scorer back in Season 86, averaging 12.57 points in eliminations to accompany Jurado (13.5 per game) and Poyos’ (20.57 per game) scoring outputs at the time.
In committing for a fifth and final year, Pepito and Perdido are also expected to rejoin a squad that already includes standout middle blockers Em Banagua and Marga Altea, outside hitter Mabeth Hilongo, and one-time Best Setter Cassie Carballo, which forms a battle-tested core heading into the next UAAP season.
On top of retaining their veteran stars, UST is also expected to bring in new recruits from its grassroots program, which should be another development to watch heading into Season 88.
Without a doubt, hopes for the Tigresses’ redemption tour just got brighter early on thanks to Dedet Pepito and Jonna Perdido rejoining the team for one final tour of duty.
Banner images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.