Amid UST’s roller-coaster UAAP campaign, Em Banagua shows why she’s one of the Tigresses’ best assets at the middle.
For all the health woes she’s dealt with throughout the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Em Banagua showed why she’s a threat in the middle for the UST Golden Tigresses when healthy.
With the UP Lady Maroons looking to keep their Final Four hopes alive, Banagua stood tall as a literal gatekeeper, finishing with a historic eight blocks in the Tigresses’ straight set victory on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
As the Tigresses clinched their fifth-straight Final Four berth since 2019, Banagua also joined an exclusive list that includes Jaja Santiago and former Tigress Riri Meneses for the third-most rejections in UAAP history.
“First of all, ‘yung game na ito, parang nabo-boost ’yung confidence ko kasi especially galing sa sideline, parang naisip ko na kailangan ko ma-prove kila coach na magamit ako sa court,” Banagua said following the 25-20, 25-21, 25-18 sweep on Wednesday afternoon.
“Malaking tulong po ‘yung extra [work] namin, like before training na mag-extra 30 minutes kami for blocking, tas aayusin namin ‘yung mga small details kasi ‘yun ‘yung magde-determine kung ginagawa namin ng tama ‘yung blockings po namin.”
Fittingly enough, Banagua’s career game also came against her UAAP “idol” in UP’s Niña Ytang, who finished with a modest 16 points on three rejections in their first-ever duel in the Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
Ytang, is a one-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker, and went off for an equally-historic 30 markers in State U’s shock upset over the NU Lady Bulldogs last March 26.
“First time ko makalaban si Ate Niña, kasi last year hindi ko siya nakalaban, tapos nung first round ngayon, hindi rin kami nagkalaban,” Banagua happily said on facing her idol. “So inspired ako since she’s one of the best middle blockers, and naalala ko nung first year ako, palagi kong sinasabihan si Ate Niña na ‘Ate pabasbas po!.’”
And now that she’s raised her bar much, much higher, Em Banagua hopes to now build off her historic outing, especially with the Final Four coming up for her and the Tigresses.
“Firstly, parang in the future, parang ‘yung eight blocks ko, parang gawin ko na siyang standard. Pero I wouldn’t say na standard kasi parang may mga factors para magawa naman po ‘yun, so everyday sa training, kailangan ko rin i-focus ‘yung mga details sa block,” she said.
On top of this, Banagua was humble enough that she is yet to fully match Ytang’s mettle, which she will use as another inspiration as she continues to unlock her full potential for the Tigresses.
“I still look up to Ate Niña, and syempre nakita ko sa stats niya na grabe din ‘yung performance ni ate, so parang gagawin ko din siyang standard din as a middle blocker, kumbaga to follow her path.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.