Retooled UP WVT shows no let-up, advances to SSL playoffs

The University of the Philippines Women’s Volleyball Team (UP WVT) continues to make significant strides during the offseason as the squad qualified for the next round of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Pre-season Championship.

The Fighting Maroons sustained their momentum from a promising fifth-place finish in the V-League last September, tallying wins against Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Jose Rizal University (JRU) in the SSL preliminaries to secure a spot in the playoffs.

UP now joins Ateneo de Manila University, Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas in Pool F, where they will play in another single round-robin to determine the quarterfinal matchups.

Rebuild in full swing

Although the team lost several vital cogs from UAAP Season 86, including Jewel Encarnacion and Steph Bustrillo, a crop of talented recruits has been delivering the goods for Diliman.

Leading the way is middle hitter Kassandra Doering, who averaged 11 points in three games. A one-and-done player from California State University San Marcos, Doering currently ranks as the second-best blocker in the tournament with 13 kill blocks to her name.

UP’s Irah Jaboneta and Kassy Doering go up for a block vs. JRU’s Shanine Pretta. Photo by Niklas Arriola

Rookie standout Kianne Olango has also been living up to her lofty billing, collecting 28 points in the first round, including a team-high 12 markers in their lone loss against De La Salle University. 

Other newcomers who made an immediate impact for UP during pool play include libero Alijah Ysulan, opposite hitter Denise Lauchengco and backup setter Jaz Manguilimotan, who currently sits fourth in serving. 

Another prized recruit is Jothea Ramos, a former Palarong Pambansa MVP, who only saw limited court time but is expected to play a bigger role for the maroon squad in the upcoming season.

New captain on deck

Aside from a roster overhaul, the UP WVT also reinforced its coaching staff as they tapped veteran statistician Benson Bocboc as the new head coach.

The change comes just seven months after Oliver Almadro was appointed chief tactician. Under Almadro, the UP WVT finished dead last in Season 86, with only a single win to boot.

According to the team management, Almadro will remain as the volleyball program director in charge of “bringing maroon-chip recruits over to Diliman.”

Before taking over the maroons’ reins, Bocboc was part of La Salle’s coaching staff, where he served as deputy to multi-titled mentor Ramil De Jesus. With the green and white, he won three UAAP championships. 

A statistical whiz, Bocboc said he hopes to unleash the full potential of the rookie-laden UP squad entering the next season.

We try to level up every step [and] every opportunity na magkakaroon tayo ng mga games [para] cumulative[ly] and overall, definitely, we’ll have an impact as a team to get those [wins],” he told Tinig ng Plaridel.

Team skipper Nica Celis also expressed optimism about the recent regrouping.

“We didn’t know what to expect at first when [Coach Bocboc] came, so we were all trying to [get a grasp of] how he is,” Celis admitted. “But it was OK. Not much with the changes, but it was definitely more calm.”

With the tournament only getting more competitive as it progresses, the senior middle blocker said the team now aims to improve their offense under their new coach’s guidance.

“Our offense is currently not as high as Coach [Bocboc] wants it to be, especially at the open side, so he’s been trying to push the players at the wing to improve more and reach a certain level that he aspires the team to reach,” she ended.

The Fighting Maroons enter a week-long break before returning to the taraflex on Oct. 26 as they take on the Ateneo Lady Eagles at the Rizal Coliseum.

RESULTS

DLSU def. UP (Sept. 28): 14-25, 25-18, 24-26, 12-25
UP def. CSJL (Oct.10): 17-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23
UP def. JRU (Oct. 18): 25-13, 25-19, 25-10