Fans fire up Tigresses V-League 3-peat run

MANILA, Philippines - More than their collective talents, the UST Tigresses banked on crowd support to repulse the San Sebastian Lady Stags and complete their three-peat bid in the Shakey’s V-League Season 7 at The Arena last Thursday.

“We all want to thank the fans who supported us all the way. My players gave their all in this series for the fans,” said UST Shaq delos Santos in the din of the team’s celebration following its 25-20, 25-27, 25-12, 25-14 victory over SSC in their sudden death for the first conference crown.

“But it was the girls’ determination and dedication that pulled us through again,” said delos Santos.

The three-peat thus matched La Salle’s feat in 2004-06, stretching the Tigresses’ overall title haul to six in the league sponsored by Shakey’s Pizza and presented by PLDT MyDSL. It also firmed up their claim as the country’s top women’s volley squad as they also copped this year’s UAAP diadem and reigned in the Unigames last year.

Delos Santos, 31, also credited assistant coach Vilet Ponce de Leon, who took over at the UST helm from the semis and in the opener of the best-of-three title series, which the Tigresses took in four sets.

“This championship would not have become possible without Vilet. She’s a big part of this victory,” said delos Santos.

What made the victory sweeter was that UST was the only team in the Final Four without a Thai reinforcement.

But with last year’s MVP Aiza Maizo, guest players Mary Jean Balse and Michelle Carolino and regulars Maika Ortiz, Denise Santiago, Rhea Dimaculangan, Judy Ann Caballejo, digger Jec Curato and Maru Banaticla and Angeli Tabaquero, who sustained injuries later in the series, dishing out solid games, the Tigresses proved they can get the job done with an all-Filipino crew.

The Tigresses also offered the victory to open spikers Tabaquero and Banaticla, who sustained knee at ankle injuries, respectively, during the championship series of the league organized by Sports Vision and backed by Accel, Mikasa and Mighty Bond.