Written by: Axel Adame Layout by: Dana Vea Plando
To fearlessly start the UAAP season 85, the players and coaches from different sports categories unleashed their tigers inside as they heightened their excitement and spirit for the Thomasian community.
Ejiya “Eya” Laure, from the women’s volleyball team, and Paul Matthew Manalang, from the men’s basketball team, recalibrated themselves as they are eyeing a good competition and hoping to perform better this season. Coach Bal David, head coach of the Growling Tigers, reformulated the team as they faced big adjustments that happened in the offseason, before the upcoming season of the UAAP.
Eya Laure, with her team, joined Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Preseason Tournament to gain further experience and help them prepare for the upcoming UAAP season 85.
“For the preparations for the Shakey’s, talagang original na maglalaro do’n is ‘yung puro mga younger generations, I mean younger teammates ko which is ‘yung mga hindi pa nakakapag-UAAP,” UST golden tigresses star and outside hitter said, as they faced the Adamson University for their first game last Saturday, September 24.
“Meron lang unfortunate na nangyari na kaya ako naglaro last game, pero originally hindi talaga dapat ako maglalaro [roon], pero nasa reserved list kasi ako kaya nireplace ko ‘yung player na ‘yon,” she added.
When asked about the UAAP, Laure said that it is not yet their focus now, but she is looking forward to performing better compared to last season as she thinks that their team is more prepared this coming UAAP season. Bouncing back and reaching finals this season would be possible with the help of their rookies and seniors.
“I think with the younger teammates ko kasi, parang very willing sila and eager to learn, ‘yun ‘yung talagang nakita ko sa kanila, and hindi talaga sila nagsesettle for less. They work hard and prepare for the league lalo na dito sa Shakey’s,” she said.
As Eya Laure is still committed to the university for season 85, she hopes for the continued support of the Thomasian community in every game in different sports in this UAAP and in volleyball this coming second term.
Consequently, Growling Tigers revamped their team as they faced big adjustments in the preparation for this coming season 85.
Paul Matthew Manalang gained experience as they joined the preseason league.
“Syempre experience dahil ‘yung mga nakalaban namin sa offseason lalo na sa [PBA] D-League may mga experience na,” UST growling tigers point guard Paul Manalang said for his takeaway the last offseason.
Preparations for the upcoming season are the part wherein players dedicate their time to various adjustments. The usual training and preparations as well as the wisdom of Coach Bal are what Manalang and his teammates are trying to cope with and adapt to fully equipped themselves this season.
“‘Yung season ngayon pantay-pantay lahat ng team eh so syempre it will be a good competition for us sa lahat ng team… bibigay na namin lahat ng best namin. For the Thomasian community, thank you for always supporting us and please keep on supporting us sa simula - sa start ng season hanggang dulo,” he added.
Head coach of the Growling Tigers, Coach Bal David, upon coming back, there was no mindset yet, “Nung pagtawag sa’kin ni Fr. actually nagulat ako eh, but syempre, mindset is wala pa that time, but along the way syempre first is to win. Everybody is want to win, so ‘yun lang mindset namin, to win our first game para makakuha ng more arduous at tumaas ‘yung confidence ng mga bata.”
As the new head coach, Coach Bal made many adjustments for the team as they lost players probably a week before the offseason, he hopes as well that the coaching staff can adjust smoothly and help their players to step up their game this coming season.
As Coach Bal said, their concern is to bring back the confidence of the players when he came back for the calling, according to him, there are so many bad habits of the players, thus, they want to turn them into good habits.
When asked about his expectations, Coach Bal said that he has no expectations for the team since they have lost players this off-season. What they want is for the players to play all out, put everything on the floor, and let their love and passion for the game be seen together with the coaching staff.
With the words from the student-athletes and coach, they are now ready to kick off and show the Thomasian spirit they have embedded for the upcoming UAAP Season 85 which tips off on Saturday, October 1.
