The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses seems to have found the perfect diagonal for Angge Poyos in the open hitter position in first-year player Kyla Cordora.
In the Golden Tigresses’ 25-19, 25-16, 25-15 victory against the University of the East Lady Red Warriors, Cordora contributed eight points with seven excellent digs and six excellent receptions.
Poyos, the reigning rookie of the year, led the team with 12 points and five excellent digs.
“Maraming nagsasabi na same kami ni Ate Kyla [Cordora] sa leap, sa vertical, and siyempre sa katawan. So ayun, sobrang saya na natutulungan niya kami, especially sa game,” Poyos said after the match, as quoted by Tiebreaker Times.
“Malaking bagay na eight points si Ate Kya. Minsan lang siya nagagamit sa court so binigay niya ‘yung best niya. Ito na ‘yung opportunity niya para ibigay ‘yung best niya at mag-perform. I’m grateful na nakapag-perform siya at nakapag-contribute.”
Cordora, for her part, wanted to be as successful as other open hitters in the UAAP, such as Poyos, De La Salle University Lady Spikers team captain Angel Canino, National University Lady Bulldogs team captain Bella Belen, and Adamson University Lady Falcons rookie team captain Shaina Nitura.
“Sobrang happy ko po ngayon since nakapaglaro ako. Parang nagkaroon ako ng breakout game since ilang beses ko ‘yun hiningi kay Lord, ‘Sana Lord magka-breakout game ako.’ Sobrang saya po kasi nagtiwala ‘yung coaches at ‘yung teammates ko na kaya kong mag-deliver today,” Cordora said in an interview by Tiebreaker Times.
“Personally, iba ako sa kanila since iba-iba kami ng pangalan, iba-iba din ‘yung style, pero gusto ko rin mapantayan ‘yung kaya nila at ‘yung success na nadala nila. Since nakikita naman ng ibang tao na kaya ko ‘yung ganun, ‘yung sarili ko na lang po ang need kong kausapin na kaya ko naman talaga.”
The Golden Tigresses are still in contention for a spot in the Final Four alongside the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
The Golden Tigresses will face the Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, April 21, at 1 pm, before ending their eliminations against the Lady Bulldogs on Sunday, April 27, at 5 pm.
