CARRYING HEIGHTENED expectations into her final playing year, UST Golden Tigresses team captain and libero Detdet Pepito sets her sights on ending her collegiate chapter with a crown.
“Itong season na ‘to, very nakaka-pressure,” Pepito told The Flame.
(“This season comes with a lot of pressure.”)
“Hindi na pinag-uusapan ‘yung third place, second place. ‘Yung pinag-uusapan ay championship na,” the two-time UAAP Best Libero added.
(“We’re no longer talking about third place or second place. What we’re talking about now is the championship.”)
The España squad will enter Season 88 with much of its Season 86 core intact, providing continuity to a lineup that has already weathered deep Final Four runs. Senior outside hitters Xyza Gula and Jonna Perdido headline a veteran group that has grown accustomed to high-stakes games.
“Happy lang din kasi almost complete, gaya noong Season 86, although wala si Em [Banagua], lagi naming pinaghuhugutan ng lakas ‘yun si Em,” Pepito said.
(“I’m still happy because we’re almost complete, just like in Season 86. Even though Em [Banagua] isn’t with us, we always draw strength from Em.”)
Middle blocker Banagua, a key figure in the Tigresses’ Finals run in Season 86, will miss Season 88, marking one of the few changes to the team’s core rotation.
Still, UST boasts a deep pool of players capable of absorbing the loss, with mainstays Marga Altea, Blessing Unekwe, Mae Coronado, Bianca Plaza, alongside high school standouts Lianne Penuliar and Avril Bron, ready to step up.
The Tigresses’ offseason buildup included a stint in the Shakey’s Super League Pre-Season tournament and a two-week training camp in Japan, where the team gained exposure to tougher competition and different playing styles.
Pepito said that while the Tigresses showed improvement, it also exposed areas the team needs to work on, particularly late-game composure.
“Magkakatalo na lang talaga ‘pag may pressure na, kung paano namin lalaruin kapag may pagod na, ‘pag di na kami kumportable sa nangyayari,” she said.
(“Games are usually decided once there’s pressure—when we’re tired or no longer comfortable with what’s happening.”)
Now under returning mentor Shaq Delos Santos, who last steered UST to a title in Season 72, the Tigresses are adjusting to a system rooted in discipline and precision. The graduating skipper said the coaching staff insists on correcting mistakes immediately, even halting play mid-rally to address lapses.
“‘Pag may nakita talaga siyang mali, cino-correct niya talaga kahit rally, pinapa-stop niya talaga,” Pepito emphasized.
(“He really corrects things right away, even in the middle of a rally.”)
Entering her swan song, Pepito remains focused on anchoring UST’s floor defense while setting the standard for younger teammates.
Pepito finished Season 87 averaging 4.25 digs per set with a 42.74% reception efficiency, continuing to serve as the backbone of the Tigresses’ defensive system.
Coming off a bronze medal finish in Season 87, UST will kick off its Season 88 campaign against the back-to-back champions NU Lady Bulldogs on Sunday, Feb. 15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
But as Pepito prepares for her final run in España, she reflects on the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
“Back in Season 86, that’s really when my leadership started. We were small, and no one expected us to make the Finals,” she said.
“What I want to leave behind is the idea that volleyball isn’t about height—it’s about willingness, your love for the game, and the heart you have to want to win.” F
