Their fairytale run may have ended, but it’s only the first chapter in what’s expected to be a bright future for the UP Lady Maroons.
As heartbreaking as it was to miss out on the Final Four, UAAP Season 87 will undoubtedly go down as a signal of major progress in the UP Lady Maroons’ goal to rebuild their status as contenders.
State U wasn’t expected to compete until Season 88, where the redshirt class led by star spiker Casiey Dongallo will finally don the Maroon and Green threads for the Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
However, that didn’t stop the Diliman-based squad from impressing throughout the ongoing Season 87, going as far as to extend their playoff aspirations after upsetting the DLSU Lady Spikers before the Holy Week break. Prior to the DLSU upset, UP also became the first team to beat defending champs NU Lady Bulldogs, along with upsetting the FEU Lady Tamaraws early into the new UAAP season.
So while their Final Four hopes ended on Wednesday against the UST Golden Tigresses, State U can still keep their heads held up high, knowing that they have come a long way from a combined two-win stretch in Seasons 85 and 86.
“We fell short sa game against [UST], but then looking at the brighter side, there is progress sa team, and it’s better to have that now and we’re in a much better place than last year. So we’re proud of that kasi we worked hard preparing for this season,” said veteran spiker Joan Monares, who emerged as one of UP’s key cogs throughout Season 87.
State U’s growth didn’t go unnoticed either for Irah Jaboneta, who, like Monares, has been in Diliman since the pandemic-stricken Season 84 under Godfrey Okumu.
“Parang ako, mas malungkot talaga, kasi andun na eh, andoon na. Pero sobrang saya pa rin po, kasi ayun nga po, with Coach [Benson Bocboc], ilang months pa lang kami magkasama, pero iba na po ‘yung progress ng team, ang laking bagay po noon,” said the two-way outside hitter.
Watch out for UP in Season 88?
Leading UP’s charge for Season 87 is the veteran trio of two-way hitters Monares and Jaboneta, to go along with sensational middle blocker Niña Ytang, whose future in Diliman remains up in the air after Season 87.
Still, a potent core will remain in State U heading into next season, starting with the California Academy-Antipolo group that includes Dongallo, opposite hitter Gelai Gajero, setter Kitzie Madriaga, and middle blocker Jenalyn Umayam.
Expected to accompany them will be holdovers led by former UAAP Girls’ Volleyball MVP Kianne Olango, setter Jaz Manguilomotan, and libero Yesha Capistrano, along with upcoming sophomore tactician Benson Bocboc and their potential recruits over the offseason.
“Sana they will take this as a motivation for next year, kasi ‘yung mga rookies namin, malalaki din ‘yung potential. So I know na if ever din naman next year, they’re gonna do better than this season,” Monares said of her younger teammates.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.