WITH THEIR final four hopes hanging in the balance, the UST Golden Tigresses are banking on belief as the road to the Finals grows steeper.
At the center of that faith is graduating captain Detdet Pepito, who continues to rally her team to stay grounded and fearless ahead of a defining clash against the NU Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday, April 22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We know the stakes are really high and we need to win. But it is very important for us to enjoy it and the rest will follow,” Pepito said to The Flame.
The Tigresses’ Final Four fate remains complex as the DLSU Lady Spikers completed a 14-0 sweep in the eliminations to trigger a stepladder semifinal format.
A victory on Wednesday would lift the Tigresses to a 9-4 record, creating a three-way tie for spots two to four. However, under UAAP tiebreak rules, teams are ranked by match points and UST currently lags in that category.
This leaves the España-based squad likely at fourth even with a win, while a playoff between the Adamson Lady Falcons and the NU Lady Bulldogs would decide the No. 2 seed and the crucial twice-to-beat advantage.
A loss would drop UST to 8-6, opening the door for a playoff for the last semifinal spot. Should the FEU Lady Tamaraws defeat Ateneo, a knockout match for fourth place becomes likely, though UST holds the edge after sweeping FEU in their elimination round meetings.
While the scenarios and standings paint a complicated picture, Pepito is keeping the team’s mindset simple.
“We need to have a positive mindset because we do not know what is going to happen next,” she said.
“Now, we need to give all of our hearts in our next games.”
More than just a defensive anchor, Pepito has emerged as the emotional core of the Tigresses especially as her UAAP career nears its end.
“Actually I cried earlier because it felt like it was our final game… I told the team I just want to see us enjoy and play our best because this is our last games together,” Pepito said. F
