THERE IS no assurance that super rookie Angge Poyos would see action in Game 2 of the UAAP women’s volleyball finals as she is still waiting for her final test clearance, UST head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes said.
Reyes said the team’s physical therapists treat and monitor Poyos so she can fully recover but admitted that the Tigress Star “won’t be able to give her 100% game performance” if she is allowed to play.
“Hopefully, her (Poyos) last final test, if she can play, it will be good. But of course we will not automatically take 100% (of her game performance) but at least 75% or 50%,” the Tigresses’ chief tactician told The Flame.
However, Poyos’ condition has improved, raising hopes that she would help her teammates avert a sweep and force a rubber match against the favored NU Lady Bulldogs.
“The swelling of her right foot has lessened, which is a good indication. The recovery is good,” Reyes said.
Poyos twisted her right ankle after a bad landing on her teammate Em Banagua during the second set of the first game of the finals on Saturday, May 11.
The Tigresses lost to last season’s finalists Lady Bulldogs via sweep, 25-23, 25-20, 25-20.
Despite the setback, Reyes emphasized the team’s readiness to fill the gaps in their game play.
“We just improved our mindset. We felt our lapses (during Game 1). But this time, we are focused on mindset,” he said.
“I told the players we must cover up what we are missing. Help each other and be more aggressive on the court.”
According to Reyes, the demand for an exceptional performance is high now that the team is back in the finals after five years.
“The Game 1 is too big for the players. Still, I wasn’t angry, I wasn’t hurt by the loss. I regret the children’s performance. We, the coaches, were disappointed because we were not able to bring out the true game of the players,” the seasoned coach said.
“We cannot reason out that we are a rookie-laden team because we reminded them that we worked hard for this to reach the finals,” he added.
The young UST squad will seek to force a decider against the Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena. F
