University of Santo Tomas is keeping its fingers crossed as it awaits the return of Angge Poyos in time for Game 2 of their best-of-three UAAP Finals series against National University on Wednesday, May 15. 

The Golden Tigresses trailed the Lady Bulldogs in their championship showdown, falling back from possibly ending a 14-year title drought following a 23-25, 20-25, 20-25 loss in Game 1 on Saturday, May 11.

In front of almost 21,000 energetic fans who packed the Big Dome, UST lost its top performer Poyos in the second set, who sustained a right ankle injury upon landing on the foot of teammate Em Banagua as they were going down from a block attempt on Alyssa Solomon’s spike. 

With the rookie outside hitter out of the rotation, the España-based spikers fell adrift of the game and were evidently bothered by her absence. 

“Regarding kay Angge, medyo may maga na ‘yung ankle niya pero hindi naman siya sobrang lala kagaya kay Eya [Laure] noon [Season 81] nag-violate agad. Pero swollen pa rin. Saka maganda naman na hindi ‘yung jumping foot [ang naapektuhan] kasi nasa right side [‘yung injury]. Pero again, definitely maapektuhan ‘yung performance namin,” UST head coach Kung Fu Reyes said. 

Should Poyos be deemed unfit to return to action in time for the essentially a win-or-go-home match, UST has an equally unwavering faith in its list of wing spikers to take her place. 

“Hindi namin hinihingi ‘yung [output] ni Angge sa isang tao. Kailangan talaga nila magtulungan. Nandiyan pa rin si Xyza [Gula], Pierre [Abellana], Ren [Penafiel]. Depende na lang sa magiging takbo nung ensayo namin. Naka-ranking naman ‘yun hindi ko lang pwede i-disclose kung sino ‘yung tao  na ‘yun. May papalit naman na wing spiker pa. Kailangan lang talaga pagtulungan,” said Reyes. 

“Hindi naman kami nananalo dahil lang si Angge ‘yung umiiskor. Nananalo kami as a group. May mga nagiging highest pointers lang pero bago dumating sa atake may dumedepensa at set para sa kanya. So ‘yung collective effort nandoon hindi lang masyado na-maximize ngayon,” he added. 

What happened to Poyos was reminiscent of UST’s previous Finals crisis in Season 81 that saw Eya Laure go down with an injury after an awkward fall in Game 2 in 2019. 

Even then, UST has no alibi to give for the way it performed other than outside forces possibly affecting their Finals scheme, while also crediting NU’s far smoother showing in the three-set affair. 

“Kaming coaches, hindi ito ‘yung ine-expect naming ilalaro nila. Somehow siguro mayroon pa kaming dapat i-check. Physically and mentally prepared na tong mga bata na to. From day one hanggang sa last day ng semifinal, we are ready. Pero baka dahil sa spotlight, dumoble ‘yung crowd, may mga outside factor ng volleyball ang tinitingnan namin aspeto,” he said. 

“Talagang stiff lang ‘yung nilaro ng mga bata. Ang smooth naman is ‘yung kabilang side. Hirap i-penetrate ‘yung depensa nila talagang kahit anong atake namin nakukuha nila. Kailangan lang naming gawin is to bounce back. Nandito na kami talagang win-or-go-home na kami ng Wednesday.”

“Una muna magre-reflect muna tong mga bata and ganoon din sa amin [coaches]. Hopefully makabawi kami ng Game 2.”