UP women’s volley team gets needed shot in the arm

- Advertisement -

WHILE the prospects of University of the Philippines women’s volleyball team are better than ever in the coming UAAP Season 87, the squad has nowhere to go but up with the arrival of developmental expert Dr. Obet Vital, star spiker Casiey Dongallo, and three other players.

Vital will oversee the Fighting Maroons’ newly-formalized training pool and concurrently serves as assistant to head coach Benson Bocboc, while ensuring the program’s continued contention by leading its grassroots program.

He brings over decades of experience as an educator and shot-caller for California Academy in Antipolo, as well as interim head coach of University of the East.

- Advertisement -

Vital was instrumental in Dongallo’s rise from a promising player from Cebu to a UAAP record holder for single-season scoring.

The 5-foot-7 ace follows the mentor who discovered and developed her into a 291-point scorer from UE to Diliman, where she will undergo a one-year residency before being eligible in Season 88.

Dongallo will be flanked by fellow transferees in setter Kizzie Madriaga, Jelai Gajero, and Jenalyn Umayam, also formerly of UE, as they prepare to reinforce a roster that will still feature one-time second-best middle blocker Nina Ytang and former UAAP juniors MVP Kianne Olango.

The team intends to bounce back from a one-win showing last season and fight for a first Final Four slot since 2017.

Ytang and Olango will stand at the forefront alongside veterans Nica Celis and Irah Jaboneta, as well as youngsters Yesha Noceja and Bienne Bansil and one-and-done dynamo Kassy Doering under the guidance of first-year tactician Bocboc and new assistants Vital and Alohi Robbins-Hardy.

The last time UP was in the Final Four, Tots Carlos and Issa Molde were still in maroon-and-green and Vital, Dongallo, and Co. are eager to help in not only ending its playoff drought but also to ensure that it can remain a fixture in the Final Four.

This is a welcome development for UP, which hopes to raise the bar for its volleyball program just like it has for its men’s basketball team, which won its second championship in four seasons last December.

“It’s about time na palakasin din natin ang volleyball teams natin because they have a great potential to be another source for unity ng UP community. We welcome the entry of Doc Obet and his players ‘di lang para palakasin ang teams but to also show that we’re turning serious about competing in volleyball,” said UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development Dir. Bo Perasol.

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: