For Detdet Pepito, the move to the pros is not about changing who she is, it’s about carrying everything she learned and lived through at the collegiate level into a bigger stage.
As she officially enters the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft on June 3, the former captain and libero of the UST Golden Tigresses is anchoring her mindset on UST’s mentality.
That identity was built in España — on grit, resilience, and the trademark “puso” culture that defined UST volleyball through years of battles in the UAAP.
“I think ano talaga, small but terrible.”
“Hindi lang naman talaga kami gifted sa height, pero maaasahan mo kami pagdating sa laro, syempre. Talaga ang UST pag naglalaro, puso talaga,” the two-time UAAP Best Libero said.
Now, she hopes that same identity can translate to the professional level. Pepito enters the draft after completing five years with the Golden Tigresses, closing a collegiate chapter where she served as both leader and defensive anchor. But instead of viewing the transition as leaving UST behind, she sees it as extending its legacy.
“Siyempre happy and proud kasi nga tatlo kaming from UST and sana lang mapakita namin kung ano yung mga learnings na nakuha namin from UST,” she said.
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Detdet Pepito shares her excitement ahead of the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft, emphasizing the importance of keeping herself in condition as she carries UST pride alongside fellow Hustle & Groove draftees Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula in making the jump from the UAAP to the pro scene. pic.twitter.com/QKw2zNenN8
— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 24, 2026
Alongside teammates Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula, Pepito now steps into a new environment where systems are faster, opponents are stronger, and expectations are higher, but she believes the foundation she built in UST will still hold.
Even as she prepares for the adjustment, she remains grounded in the same mindset that carried her through collegiate pressure moments.
“Of course hindi ko masyado pini-pressure talaga yung sarili ko. Siyempre, once in a lifetime lang naman ito, so hanggat maaari gusto kong enjoyin,” she said.
Still, enjoyment does not mean losing edge. For Pepito, competitiveness remains non-negotiable — only now, it comes with a sense of pride in representing where she came from.
“Pero siyempre yung pagiging competitive, nandun pa rin. Siyempre pride din ang UST yung dala namin.”
As she prepares for the next step in her career, Pepito is not leaving her identity behind — she is bringing it with her, hoping the same “puso” that defined her years in green and gold will also define her future in the professional game.
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