Spirited UP run
Last Saturday as I watched the University of the Philippines Lady Fighting Maroons take on the defending champions Ateneo Lady Eagles at the Mall of Asia Arena, I really wanted the former to win. Never mind if as a sportswriter I have to maintain some form of impartiality. My alma mater was back in the Final Four after 12 years and I was just basking in it.
Sadly my wish was not to be granted as the “Battle of Katipunan” went in favor of the Blue and White in three sets, leaving my beloved Maroons reeling and shown the exit in Season 78 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
As I exited the MOA Arena and drove to my next coverage, I could not help but think of the lost opportunity for the Lady Maroons.
Realization, however, dawned upon me no sooner that it was not yet time for the Lady Maroons to take on a bigger stage.
The heart and desire were definitely there. If games are won on those alone this version of the UP women’s volleyball team could give the top teams a major run for their money.
But matches are decided on the floor as we know it and admittedly the Lady Maroons, for all their strides, are not yet there collectively, especially vis-à-vis their Final Four opponent Ateneo, who for all intents is the current gold standard in UAAP women’s volleyball.
Their 25-19, 25-16 and 25-21 semifinal loss was pretty much representative of where they are at this point of their development.
They showed flashes of brilliance but by and large were still prone to one too many mistakes, indicative of a team still searching for the right footing to compete at a consistently high level.
Just the same, Season 78 was still a solid volleyball year for the Lady Maroons, punctuated by a winning record (8-6) and back in the mix at the top half of the field.
More importantly, the season provided the community a glimpse of how promising the coming years would be with young guns Isa Molde, Diana Carlos, Marian Buitre, Justine Dorog, Jewel Lai and Arielle Estranero on the rise and veterans Kathy Bersola, Nicole Tiamzon and Princess Gaiser still around, making the core intact.
So to Coach Jerry Yee and the rest of the girls, no bowing of heads definitely and thank you very much for a very spirited run this season. It was fun while it lasted. A new challenge, though, beckons, which is building on the gains of this year moving forward. There is nowhere to go but up at this point. Go, UP!