​​UP Fighting Maroons open their UAAP Season 87 Volleyball Campaign with a fresh start

With several changes in the line up and coaches, the UP Fighting Maroons volleyball teams begin their new season in the UAAP.

After the first week of the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate volleyball tournament, the UP Women’s Volleyball team, composed of eight rookies, and under new head coach Benson Bocboc, are off to a great start, as they currently hold a 2-1 win-loss record, already surpassing the team’s lone win from last season. 

UPWVT Head Coach, Benson Bocboc

The UP Men’s Volleyball team, on the other hand, currently has a 1-2 win loss record. Former assistant coach Carlo Cabatingan now sits as the new head coach of the team, composed of seven rookies.

UPMVT Head Coach, Carlo Cabatingan

The women’s volleyball team earned a hard-fought victory during their opening game, winning in five grueling sets, and preventing the reverse sweep attempt of the depleted UE Lady Warriors.  The match, which lasted for more than two hours, saw the Fighting Maroons having a commanding 8-2 lead in the fifth set.  However, the gutsy Lady Warriors staged a comeback, tying the game at 13-all, before team captain Nica Celis sent the team to match point, and veteran middle blocker Niña Ytang sealing the deal with a sharp kill from the middle.

Outside Hitter Irah Jaboneta, Setter Jaz Manguilimotan, Middle Blocker Niña Ytang

In their second match, the Lady Maroons pulled off a victory against last season’s Final Four team FEU Lady Tamaraws, winning three consecutive sets, after dropping the first set. Junior spiker Joan Monares was the top scorer with 19 points, while rookie sensation Kianne Olango exploded with 17 points.  The win also marked the team’s first victory against the Tamaraws since Season 84.

Opposite Spiker Kianne Olango

However, in their third game of the first round, the Fighting Maroons were swept in straight sets by their Katipunan rivals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who notched their first win of the season.  The team has yet to win in the Battle of Katipunan, with their last victory being in UAAP Season 80. Veteran outside hitter Irah Jaboneta was the lone bright spot of the team during this game, scoring 11 points all from attacks, and was a steady floor defender, delivering 10 excellent receptions, with 37% efficiency.

Outside Hitter Irah Jaboneta, Setter Julia De Leon, Opposite Spiker Kianne Olango

On the other hand, the UP Men’s Volleyball team suffered back-to-back losses in the UAAP, after winning their opening match against the UE Red Warriors in five sets.  During this match, UE was already ahead, after winning the first and third sets. The Fighting Maroons, however, had a run in the fourth set, overpowering the Red Warriors with the score of 25-16, to extend the game to a deciding fifth set.  UE nearly won, as they had an 8-12 advantage in the fifth, but the Fighting Maroons pulled an 8-2 run to overcome the Red Warriors, winning the match with the score of 16-14.

Middle Blocker Milven Francisco, Outside Hitters Marlon De Guzman and Tommy Castrodes, Opposite Spiker Olayemi Raheem

The UP MVT was swept by the FEU Tamaraws in straight sets during their second match.  The Fighting Maroons kept it close in the first set, scoring 21 against FEU’s 25, but the team lost steam in the 2nd and 3rd sets, only scoring 16 and 18, respectively.

Opposite Spiker Olayemi Raheem, Middle Blocker Milven Francisco, Outside Hitter Tommy Castrodes

The team meanwhile had a good start during their third match in the first round, winning the first set against the error plagued Ateneo Blue Eagles via a kill block from veteran middle blocker Dan Nicolas.  However, the Blue Eagles out-attacked UP in the succeeding sets, eventually winning the match in four sets.

Middle Blocker Dan Nicolas

Head coach and former UPMVT setter Carlo Cabatingan, meanwhile remains optimistic for the upcoming games of the team.

“We (will) prepare better, plan better, and plan for all situations”, he said in an interview.

The Fighting Maroons will face De La Salle University in their next game on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the Mall of Asia Arena.  The Men’s team will face the Green Spikers at 9AM, while the Women’s team will square off with the Lady Spikers at 1PM.  Both teams will try to get back to the win column, following the defeat of DLSU to UST, in both men’s and women’s matches.