Give And Go
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Their “Kami Naman” (Our turn) push did not go all the way but there is no denying how successful the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 campaign of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses was, and how the future is bright for them.
Losing in the finals to the Ateneo Lady Eagles in their rubber match Game Three last weekend, UST saw its championship bid come one win short of being fulfilled.
It was an ending to what was a spectacular journey for the Tigresses that had them making believers out of many, including this writer, that they could go all the way and bring the women’s volleyball tournament title back to España after nine years.
UST had a lot of going for it as it made its way to the just-concluded finals — solid players led by Queen Tigress Sisi Rondina and heir apparent in super rookie Eya Laure and huge momentum springing from a strong finish in the elimination round.
The Tigresses were rolling as they dethroned erstwhile champions De La Salle Lady Spikers with a gutsy victory in the Final Four and had Ateneo pushed the wall with a straight-sets win in the series-opener of the UAAP finals.
Unfortunately UST would not be able to maintain such wave even as the Lady Eagles found their identity the rest of the championship series which eventually culminated in Ateneo winning via shutout in Game Three.
Not surprising, much tear was shed after the Tigresses’ loss, ruing a missed solid opportunity to be on top of UAAP women’s volleyball anew.
A championship, too, would have been a fitting ending to the career of Rondina, the UST faithful believed; an assertion that is hard to argue against as Rondina was a picture of UST pride and grit in five years of playing for the Tigresses.
But as sad and unfortunate the ending was for the Tigresses in Season 81, there is still much to celebrate for the kind of run they had.
The trite expression of “It’s the journey not the destination” truly applies here.
From a team that was expected to decently compete, UST more than lived up to what it was billed and was unstoppable in key junctures of the tournament to merit where it eventually ended up.
Rondina had a final year to remember, leading the league in scoring and earning the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball most valuable player award.
And her efforts were not for naught because the impact of the kind of showing they had this season would go a long way for the holdovers to take cue from.
Speaking of the holdovers, Laure is Rondina in the making, if not she already is.
Then there are Ysa Jimenez, KC Galdones, Janine Balcorta, Mafe Galanza and Rachelle Roldan who showed so much promise in their rookie year.
Veterans Caitlyn Viray, Alina Bicar and Dimdim Pacres should be back for another run.
EJ Laure could well be back after sitting out the last two seasons because of injury, and her partnership with sister Eya has many in eager anticipation.
A healthier Melina Allessandrini is also expected to return with many hoping she could take the path that Ateneo’s Kat Tolentino took on her way back to numerous knee injuries.
Coach Kungfu Reyes should also be tow, ensuring the team of continuity in its system that has steadily been effective.
Kami Naman was not realized this season but considering where UST ended up and where it will be coming off for the next season and beyond, it is highly likely that such push will be realized. It is just a question of when.
Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.
