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www.uaapsports.com/features/437/queen-tigresses-foretold-young-ones-title-romp/ Queen Tigresses foretold young ones’ title romp
By Anthony Divinagracia
02 March 2010 02:40 AM
Manila, Philippines - The "elders" saw it coming.
UST winning the 72nd UAAP women’s volleyball plum is hardly surprising. And the queen Tigresses, who once sat on the throne the younger generation now occupies after unseating De La Salle University last Saturday, couldn’t agree less.
As former champions themselves during the August Sta. Maria era, Roxanne Pimentel, Joanne Botor-Carpio and Mozzy Ravena, among others knew the present crop of Tigresses have the skills, let alone the "right attitude" and "motivation", to take the cake from the more experienced Lady Archers.
“They have the right attitude. Teamwork is always there, walang nagsasarili kahit pa individually magagaling sila," said Roxanne Pimentel, the Tigresses' top middle hitter who piloted the squad to title finishes in 1993 and 1996.
Pimentel, who was guest player of the same UST squad that ruled the second conference of the 6th Shakey's V-League last year, also noted "how everyone in the team cooperates and listens to the coaching staff and watch each other's back on the court."
"Nagtutulungan. Walang sapawan," added Pimentel while sharing a laugh with former teammates Cindy Rival, Dixie Maningat, and Carpio.
Carpio, a former UST setter, underscored the coaching staff's "hands-on" motivation of their wards, particularly the rookies in staying focused and overcoming "championship jitters."
"It's (motivation) a key," said Carpio, who directed the UST offense when the Tigresses snared the championship in 1993 and 1997.
The inclusion of former UST skipper Vilet Ponce-De Leon into the Tigresses' think tank during the off-season last year, worked wonders for the team, Carpio stressed.
"Dating team captain namin siya (Ponce-De Leon) kaya tiwala kami na kaya n’yang i-inspire ang mga bata on and off the court, being a former team leader herself," Carpio said, adding that with Ponce-De Leon on the bench, head coach Shaq delos Santos had more time to strategize and look after the officiating.
Describing the Season 72 Tigresses, Carpio said: "Malakas per position, kumpleto ang skills, malalaki and experienced na sa laro."
Bias aside, Carpio praised the on-court leadership of current UST setter and Finals MVP Rhea Dimaculangan for "keeping the team a step ahead of La Salle offensively and controlling the tempo."
Carpio last suited up for the national team during the Laos Southeast Asian Games beach volleyball tournament where she reached the quarterfinals
Good reception
Ravena, for her part commended the Tigresses “good reception” which proved to be the key in their title quest against La Salle.
“They have no problem offensively. Blocking-wise, they have the height. What’s really telling about them is that by the start of the second round they have been playing more cohesively and receiving the ball well which made the difference,” said Ravena who played spiker for the 1990 UST champion team.
Asked whom she thought gave the Tigresses a big lift in the finals, Ravena, one of the volleyball analysts of ABS-CBN sports, cited rookies Maru Banaticla and Denise Santiago for “playing well” against the more seasoned La Salle frontline, and veterans Angeli Tabaquero and Aiza Maizo for “stepping up in the crucial moments of the game”.
With only Tabaquero graduating this season, the elder Tigresses agreed that UST has a “strong” chance of retaining the title.
“Kaya mag-back-to-back (champion),” Pimentel said.
Carpio backed Pimentel’s words, adding: “Mataas na ‘yung level of play nila as a team kaya siguradong mahihirapan ang ibang team na agawin sa kanila ‘yung korona.”
Ravena concurred but reminded the Tigresses not to let their guard down next season, hinting that other teams will surely bolster their line-ups with “quality recruits.”
“Ateneo will come up strong next season, given its intact line-up while La Salle with rookies Joanne Siy and Abigail Maraño playing well in their first year will be better next season,” Ravena said.
