If there’s one thing University of Santo Tomas can now look forward to is its relatively young squad which remained intact at the conclusion of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

Despite coming up short in their Finals series against National University Lady Bulldogs, UST captain Detdet Pepito was glad that everyone got their time to prove that the Golden Tigresses are now inching closer to snapping the school’s 14-year title drought. 

Next season, UST plans to do exactly just that with no player from the lineup graduating yet. 

“[One thing I’m thankful about is] ‘yung buo kami. Kasi pumasok kaming buo at natapos rin kahit papaanong buo. Nakapaglaro si Angge Poyos, so masaya na kami doon na kinaya niya at ngayon [pwede na] mas mag-focus na sa recovery niya,” Pepito said. 

“Siguro talagang kulang pa. Pero nandoon na kami. Next time hindi na kami papayag na ganito ulit ‘yung maramdaman namin at syempre proud kami sa bawat isa,” she added. 

“Sa mga teammates ko na kalahati lang ‘yung height pero grabe ‘yung puso.”

Hailed as this season’s Rookie of the Year, Poyos was sorely missed by UST as it struggled to match NU’s explosion in the championship battle. 

The 20-year-old Poyos sustained a right ankle injury after landing on the foot of a teammate in the second set of Game 1, eventually sitting out the rest of the series opener.

Though the outside hitter rejoined the España crew in Game 2 in hopes for an extension, Poyos only came in spurts as she hasn’t completely recovered from the unfortunate injury. 

A decision that was easy to make for UST head coach Kung Fu Reyes, noting that gambling her health wasn’t worth the risk of completely losing her from the rotation.

Sans Poyos, undersized spiker Xyza Gula stepped up to the task and it didn’t go unnoticed. 

“Proud kami sa mga players, especially kay Xyza. In the absence of Angge [she stepped up], tiningnan namin kung kakayanin [ni Angge]. Kasi talagang gusto maglaro pero hindi namin isusugal. At least hanggang doon lang muna siya,” Reyes said. 

It’s also not lost on Reyes how tough Pepito and his young playmaker Cassie Carballo had it all season long. 

For their deeply connected hard work, Pepito and Carballo were hailed Best Libero and Best Setter, respectively, something that Reyes can count on once their redemption begins. 

“Kay Detdet, sa leadership niya. Naiabot niya ‘yung team hanggang dito sa Finals. Sa Best Setter namin, kay Cassie,” the tactician said. 

As Reyes believes, they can only go up from here.