After a slow start in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, UST Golden Tigresses assistant coach Yani Fernandez called on the UST community to remain patient and continue trusting head coach Shaq Delos Santos—the same mentor who delivered the school’s last women’s volleyball championship 14 years ago.
With the return of key players Detdet Pepito, Jonna Perdido, Angge Poyos, and Cassie Carballo, along with the additions of Avril Bron, Lianne Penuliar, and Julia Balingit, expectations were high for the Golden Tigresses entering the season.
However, the team struggled early in the tournament, posting its worst five-game opening since Season 80, which drew criticism from some supporters.
“Ang sa akin lang sa community, maging isang malaking suporta talaga sa team. Wala kasing mangyayari kung ganyan ang gagawin,” Fernandez said. “Mas nakaka-down sa team ‘yung ganyang klase ng comments at bato sa team namin. Basta kami, in our end, ilalaban namin ‘yung UAAP hanggang huli.”
UST Still in Transition, Says Fernandez
The adjustment period was expected, especially after a major coaching change in the offseason. Longtime head coach Kung Fu Reyes stepped down after 10 seasons, paving the way for Delos Santos to take over the program.
For Fernandez, the transition to a new system takes time, and the team must be allowed to grow through the process.
“Well, ang sa akin lang, siyempre, hindi rin biro ang nagpalit ng head coach. Again, new system, new ideas. But we must respect the decision of the management and the admins of our university na ‘yon nga, kailangan talagang unti-untiin. Hindi siya madali,” Fernandez admitted. “Again, kahit saang profession or event ng sport, hindi one click na ma-a-adapt ‘yung sistema. Little by little.”
One of the Golden Tigresses’ toughest moments early in the season came in a straight-set loss to the Adamson Lady Falcons, 25-27, 22-25, 12-25.
A Big Bounce Back Brewing?
However, UST quickly bounced back, rediscovering its form with a four-set victory over the UP Fighting Maroons, 16-25, 25-13, 25-19, 25-20.
“Well, ‘yung tapang bumalik na, pero siyempre hindi pa dapat kami magpakampante doon sa performance nila. Still, meron pang kailangang trabahuin,” Fernandez said.
“And talagang these past few days, especially after nung Adamson game, maraming usapan talaga—talk with the coaches, talk with the players, even with the admin and management of UST—na ‘yung suporta talaga ng bawat isa. Pinakita at pinaramdam na kahit ano mangyari, lalaban kami para sa UST.”
Fernandez also emphasized that Delos Santos continues to receive strong backing from the entire UST community, including the coaching staff and university leadership.
“Pero at the end of the day, ‘yung support ng UST para kay Coach Shaq, nandoon. Kahit kami, kahit si Coach Kungfu (Reyes), makikita niyo na nandiyan sa sidelines. Talagang suportado kay Coach Shaq, pati si Father Rodel (Cansancio),” he added.
Then, as if to prove Fernandez’s point, the Golden Tigresses closed their first-round campaign with an impressive win over the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. Whether this is the start of UST’s turnaround in Season 88 will be one of the storylines of the next round.
