Tigresses coach Kung Fu Reyes anticipates ’dogfight’ in Season 85, predicts Final Four cast
By Rob Andrew Dongiapon
Tigresses coach Kung Fu Reyes anticipates ’dogfight’ in Season 85, predicts Final Four cast
University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses head coach Emilio “Kung Fu” Reyes expects a fracas for the UAAP Season 85 Women’s volleyball title ahead of their season opener on Sunday, Feb. 26, against De La Salle University Lady Spikers.
“It will be a dogfight this Season 85,” Reyes said during the season kickoff press conference inside Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, citing a prolonged offseason for all eight teams.
“Kasi nga nakapag-prepare na halos lahat ng teams (for this season) nang sabay sabay,” he added
While Reyes expects a feisty battle from every team, he sees the Golden Tigresses to be right at the top of the league leaders once more.
“Fearless forecast ko, same final four from last season. Bakbakan na lang kami sa seedings,” he said.
In Season 84, teams had little to no preseason events as they struggled to gauge into the new normal.
This time around, the Tigresses competed in the V-League Collegiate Challenge tournament and the Shakey’s Super League,m where they ended up fourth through a rookie-laden squad.
UST also set up training camps in Baguio and Japan last January in a bid to improve from their fourth-place finish last season.
“Masasabi namin na well-prepared, and well-exposed ang mga players na pumasok, and yung mga returning players… Dahil nga mas mahaba ang preparation, mas intense ang training namin,” Reyes said.
Pillars of the Tigresses’ Season 84 run Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, Janna Torres, Maji Mangulabnan, and KC Galdones will join returning Milena Alessandrini, and rookies Bernadett Pepito, Pierre Abellana, Xyza Gula, Jona Perdido, and Cassie Carballo among others in this year’s relatively young crew.
“Expect niyo magdedeliver sila… Rookies will play a certain role and patch up things na nagkulang kami last season,” said Reyes on their incoming first-year players.
Reyes also expects its new guns to fill in the shoes left by veterans Ysa Jimenez and Camille Victoria, who both turned pro in the Premier Volleyball League during the offseason.
