The UP Lady Maroons take down the Final Four-contending FEU Lady Tamaraws early into UAAP Season 87.
Despite coming in as heavy underdogs, the UP Lady Maroons passed an early acid test in their new era after a statement win against the Final Four-seeking FEU Lady Tamaraws on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
It was an impressive showing for State U, who took down an FEU team fresh off an inspiring Final Four appearance in Season 86 under the leadership of foreign student athlete Faida Bakanke, setter Tin Ubaldo, and spikers Chenie Tagaod and Gerz Petallo.
UP now improves to a 2-0 record early into Season 87, which surpasses their one-win record in the Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament last year.
“First of all, parang it took a lot of hard work for the team, kasi ‘yung panalo na ito, hindi siya chamba kasi pinaghandaan namin ito, nag-training kami and naghirap kami during training kasi gusto talaga namin manalo. I’m happy kasi nagbunga talaga ‘yung paghahanda,” breakout star Joan Monares said following the 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 victory over the Lady Tamaraws.
UP has since reloaded its core over the offseason, tapping a new head coach in Benson Bocboc, and snapping up a formidable rookie class led by former UAAP Girls’ Volleyball Most Valuable Player Kianne Olango.
Apart from Monares, veterans such as one-time Best Middle Blocker Niña Ytang, and team captain Nica Celis have also taken on leadership roles for the new-look Lady Maroons. All three are holdovers from State U’s “dark days” in the post-pandemic era, and will now work with their new additions to form a competitive Lady Maroons core for Season 87.
“Siguro with our experience, given ‘yung time last year na bago ‘yung sa team din, players bago din…Compared siguro this season, malaking tulong ‘yung rookies namin na galing high school, and natutulungan nila ‘yung team namin. Though bago din itong mga players, we’re working sa connection namin sa court, inside and outside, para maganda,” reflected Monares, after her 19-point outing on Wednesday.
Ytang, a one-time Best Middle Blocker, believes that this UP core is a united front with the mutual desire to give their all-out performance for every game. Given this, she’s hardly surprised with how the team is jelling just fine early into the new UAAP season.
“Hindi naman po siya naging mahirap samin kasi isa po kaming goal, isang buong team namin, isa ‘yung goal namin na mabigay po ‘yung best namin sa lahat ng game…lalo na sa mga bagong coaches at bagong players kasi parang gusto din po nilang makatulong sa team, so hindi po naging mahirap ‘yung pag-adjust namin from last year,” said Ytang, who finished with 15 points built on 11 kills and four blocks against the Lady Tams.
Bocboc, meanwhile, has noticed the heart and grit of his players, which was highlighted by their defensive showing against the Lady Tams. Monares notched a team-high excellent digs against FEU on Wednesday, while veteran Irah Jaboneta recorded 12 excellent receptions to defend against the Lady Tams’ services.
Along with Ytang’s four rejections, Olango also chipped in three blocks of her own as they led UP’s net defense against the Morayta-based squad.
“Sa tingin ko natural sila, pagdating ko hindi naman ako nahirapan kasi humahabol talaga sila ng bola, dumedepensa talaga sila. Gusto talaga nila maglaro ng volleyball, ‘yun naman nakakatuwa sa mga young generation na up and coming,” Bocboc said as he praised his Lady Maroons’ defensive act.
“Wala silang pakelam kung masaktan sila basta ma-catch ‘yung bola. So minsan nakakalimutan, and nire-remind lang natin sila sa labas. Pero in general nakakabalik naman, so tignan natin kung hanggang saan, pero ang goal namin is dire-diretso. ‘Yung depensa na ‘yan, ‘yung block na ‘yan tuloy tuloy ‘yan.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.