“Bilog talaga ang bola. […] Laban lang nang laban!”
The University of the Philippines Women’s Volleyball Team (UP WVT) landed the biggest upset of the UAAP Season 87 Volleyball Tournaments after taking down the erstwhile-undefeated National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in a five-set marathon, 26-24, 23-25, 17-25, 25-23, 15-12, on March 26 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
Not only does this ensure a traditional Final Four knockout round in the semis instead of a Stepladder format, but it also marked the end of NU’s 9-0 game streak in Season 87 and UP’s first victory over them since Season 80.
Despite the odds stacked against the Fighting Maroons, it was their fighting spirit and teamwork that ultimately paved the way for this streak-breaking victory.
“Sobrang laking bagay po sa’min ‘to, sa team. Hindi lang po para sakin, kasi nakakatulong po talaga siya pangpataas ng morale ng team. Bawal talaga sumuko ang isa sa’min kailangan sabay po talaga kami aangat, walang bibitaw,” said middle blocker Niña Ytang in a post-game press conference.
Ytang delivered a career-high of 30 points built on 27 attacks and three blocks—numbers unseen from a middle blocker since the presence of Jaja Santiago during her UAAP days.
Aside from Ytang’s stellar performance, the Maroons found big contributions on all fronts, with Irah Jaboneta recording a triple-double with 10 points, 13 digs, and 19 receptions, while rookies Kianne Olango and Bienne Bansil delivered 10 markers apiece composed of crucial attacks and tips in the fourth and fifth sets.
Joan Monares also put up 16 points, eight digs, and eight receptions, as well as the winning point to hand the Lady Bulldogs their first loss of the season.
“We’ve been saying [in] the past, […] it’s all teamwork. Hindi kami gumagalaw mag-isa. Gumagalaw kami as a team at tulong-tulong. I think the team deserves this win,” expressed Monares regarding the team’s performance.
Fighting Instinct
Current UP assistant coach Justine Dorog, a then player of the Season 80 State U squad that took down NU, commended the team’s fighting spirit and their combined effort to grab this win.
“I’m so proud of the team. Nakita talaga ‘yung eagerness manalo, and nag-contribute lahat lalo na during crucial moments. Makikita mo lahat sila nag-commit sa kailangan nila gawin. Para manalo lahat kailangan magtulungan, hindi kaya na isa o dalawa lang lumalaban,” she said in a post-game interview with Tinig ng Plaridel.
Dorog stood side-by-side with now-PVL greats Tots Carlos and Isa Molde as they notched a straight-sets victory over the Jaja Santiago-led Sampaloc squad at the same venue.
Head coach Benson Bocboc echoes the same sentiments, highlighting the Maroons’ unwavering ‘Laban spirit’.
“‘UP Laban’ talaga sila, so hindi ko hinihingi sa kanila yun. Lumalabas lang so nakakatuwa kasi may mga team na ganon. Hindi lahat ng team kasi ganyan. […] I think yun yung puhunan nila–yung character nila na ganon hindi galing sa’kin,” he said.
This fighting spirit proved vital in the crucial moments of the game, especially when UP caught a second wind in the fourth salvo and extended the match to a deciding set.
With a 1-point advantage in the fifth, Ytang launched an attack that put the Fighting Maroons at match point 14-12.
Finally, it was the veteran instincts of Monares that sealed the deal, adjusting mid-air from an attack to a drop ball after surveying the defense.
“Parang, it’s game instinct na ba’t mo papaluin kung lahat sila naghihintay sa palo mo?” shared the spiker about her thoughts leading to the final play of the game.
Now ranked fifth with a 4-5 record, UP WVT keep their Final Four hopes alive and gain a huge morale boost for the remainder of their UAAP Season 87 campaign.
They will be facing the University of the East Lady Warriors tomorrow, March 30, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
