I watched the game yesterday live and it was really worth it.
This is my OWN assessment for the game yesterday:
Preparation
DLSU:
You can really sense that they really prepared and studied the games of UST. I had heard in one of their huddle (thru Balls replay), Ramil saying to Alarca: sino ang nagseserve? di ba si Maizo, so ang bagsak, di ba sa likod?!
DLSU started the game with a lot of off-speed hits which gave them a lot of points, though UST had realized it after a while thus they had a taste of their own tactic.
Another thing Alarca made a significant change with her usual jumped serve. She changed it to soft and short ball jumped serve that gave a lot of points to DLSU since UST is not always to prepared to get it, either it was an ace or UST was not able to receive it well consequently not able to have a play or a set.
For the rest of DLSU players, their strategy is to put power on their service which end up to some of them to have long services which had translated to costly errors.
I am not sure if DLSU had also included in their preparation their intimidation weapons because they really did trash talking and stare downs. If yes, they know better whether it is really needed or not.
UST:
The very obvious preparation from the tigresses are their hairstyles, face paints and colorful shoe laces, and the result, best in showmanship goes to USTE! hahaha.
Joking aside, UST had prepared more on their variation of attacks, though I also saw a big improvement in their service receive but it was neutralized by powerful and deceiving services of DLSU.
Most importantly, I think UST was emotionally equipped/prepared for the game. You can see in the faces of the players that they want to win, no matter what and no matter how. They are very confident inside the court, traces of nervousness are very minimal (except for Judy, she needs to develop emotional stability/maturity in her games).
Individual Players Performance:
DLSU:
Mercado: She delivered what was expected from her however it was not enough for UST.
Cruz: She was not in her usual element. Baka may monthly visitor lang sya...
Alarca: She played well in this game by showing her veteran skills. Kaya lang, parang laging nalugi or worried ang itsura nya regardless sa kanila ang point or hindi.
Siy: Rookie but confident in delivering. Nice net defense but poor in digging.
Marano: Her attacks are just so-so but sya ang kasabwat ni Alarca sa blocking defense.
Martinez: She cannot definitely match Rhea but I cannot deny that she is improving.
Gohing: Magaling but she tends to over-do things....
Ramil: He is always theoretical in coaching but he knows better kung ano best coaching style to his team.
UST:
Angge - EXCELLENT performance. I enjoyed seeing her digging all the powerful hits of DLSU. She just proved that a person can have both, attacking and defense supremacy.
Aiza - The -Crucial Moments Superstar-. She always made her presence felt when a point is critically needed by her team. I also love seeing her running in the court because it boosts the confidence of her team mates and this is one sign of her leadership. Sa tingin ko kaya hindi masyado gumawa ng points during the start of the game because Rhea anticipated na binabantayan si Aiza kasi nga DLSU studied their games tsaka medyo dami rin errors ni Kapitana. But kapag crucial, Rhea knows kung kanino ibibigay (syempre porsyento), yan ay Kaliwete Killer (Aiza) or Bonggang Angge.
Maika - She was very CONSISTENT in her attacks and I am very happy to see that she is now comfortable doing her running attacks. Pero kailangan mag-ingat sa service, dapat alam na niya na malakas ang tira nya kaya medyo dumulo sya pagmagseserve sya.
Dindin - She acquires maturity in her games very fast, I remember during the first set, she was blocked by Alarca and Cruz in her quick attack but she accepted it with a smile, diba good attitude (in her mind babawi ako), then she got even when she blocked Alarca in the 3rd set. Napeperfect nya na rin yung mga quick hits nya and I know she will eventually master her running hits kasi hindi pa perfect ang timing nya. BUT I want her to learn delivering sure service all the time (whether it is crucial or not) and she needs to know that every after her service, kailangan nya dumepensa sa Zone 1 at wag tumunganga, lagi sya late mag-dig , kaya dun nilalagay ng opponent¡¦s spikers yung bola pag sya ang nagseservice.
PS: Dahil kay Dindin, mukhang mawawalan na ng career si Hannah.
Judy - Again, she needs to improve her maturity and flexibility. I noticed that she delivered the points needed kapag gusto nya yung set pero pag hindi, either net blocked sya or happy birthday ang palo nya. Pero kapag gusto nya ang set kaya nya magtanim ng bola sa kabilang court at mas maganda back-row denfense nya compare to Maru. Over-all, ang hirap nyang dalhin pag nageerror sya, kasi sya yung tipong isscore ng pakyawan or mageerror ng pakyawan buti na lang merong Maru na kapalitan nya.
Maru - Confident and smart pero mas lamang ang cross court hits nya kesa sa down the line kaya predictable na sya at kinakailangan ibalik si Judy to put variation and at least deceive DLSU blockers. Bythe way sya ang bumawi sa DLSU ng mga off-speed hits scores nila.
Rhea - ramdam mo na masama pakiramdam nya kahapon, tsaka marami syang mababang set sa open hitters (kaya aburido si Judy pero Angge did not care, kahit anong set ok lang). Nonetheless she is still the best setter for me kasi she is VERY SMART and at the same time maassahan mo sya sa blocking and most of all sa service. Surely she will have the Best Server award for this season.
Jessica - sya ang under rated player ng UST. She delivers but hindi masyadong narerecognize. Galing daw sa sakit pero maganda ang pinakita nya kahapon. I must say that she is improving big time!
Shaq and Vilet - I like the way they handled the team yesterday, more on motivation, kasi yun naman ang dapat during the game since most of the teachings should take place during practice.
OVER-ALL
The game was VERY nice to watch and looking forward to the FINALS.
Congratulations UST!
Season 72 title is few games away and I have faith that this is for UST.
so fair lang tayo!!! 
![[FEU]~shai4~ Avatar](http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/shailou/1_449293365l.jpg)
