MANILA – University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will have three of their key players back for another year in the upcoming UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament next year.
Negrense Joan Marie Monares, Antiquena Irah Jaboneta, and three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker awardee Nina Ytang have all agreed to play their remaining year of eligibility with the Fighting Maroons.
“Napakalaking bagay na babalik silang tatlo para sa atin kasi gusto natin our women’s volleyball team will keep the fire burning kapag second sem. Now that Nina, Joan, and Irah are all returning, we are sure na the UP community ay lalong mawiwiling sumuporta,” said Office of Athletics and Sports Development Director Bo Perasol.
Ytang, Monares, and Jaboneta will all be expected to lead a determined State U side that will welcome continued development from impact rookies Kianne Olango and Jaz Manguilomotan, as well as the entry of talented transferees Casiey Dongallo, Kizzie Madriaga, and Jelai Gajero.
Ytang was recognized as the second-best middle blocker for the third year in a row after averaging 11.21 points per game and 0.55 blocks per set.
Monares and Jaboneta, meantime, both broke out in their fourth seasons, with norms of 12.21 points per game and 0.25 aces per set for the former and 10.79 points per game and 38.60-percent receiving efficiency for the latter.
With this development, the WVT will push forward with a mostly intact core that will miss PVL Draft-bound skipper Nica Celis and one-and-done Kassy Doering, but will still be under the watchful eye of shot-caller Benson Bocboc.
As it tries to end a near-decade playoff drought, UP will also add a head consultant and a strength-and-conditioning coach, both hailing from Italy.
“We will have new Italian coaches (Farm Fresh Foxies head coach Alessandro Lodi and SGA strength and conditioning coach Carlo Buzzichelli). There will be many more things for our players to learn,” said SGA boss Frank Lao./PN
