Following Niña Ytang’s declaration for the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft, another Fighting Maroon has decided to take the next step in her young volleyball career.
With applications for the 2026 PVL Draft set to open tomorrow, April 20, Irah Jaboneta has also expressed her intent to turn professional after a fruitful five-year stint with University of the Philippines.
The De La Salle Zobel product made her decision shortly after UP’s 23-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-19 loss to the UST Golden Tigresses in their final game of the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
“It’s time to take the next step na talaga and magpa-draft,” Jaboneta said, who finished with 16 points off 15 attacks and one block, along with 17 excellent receptions and 11 excellent digs in her final UAAP game.
“Tanda na rin ‘eh. It’s time for the kids and the remaining players to show what they’ve got. Kasi kumbaga, ako, I’ve served my purpose na talaga for UP. And sana talaga nakita nila at na-appreciate nila kasi every game, hindi naman kaming lahat ng players, and alam ko kaming tatlo every game talaga binubuhos namin kung ano kaya namin.”
Meanwhile, team captain Joan Monares — who was largely sidelined in Season 88 due to a back injury — remains undecided on whether she will declare for the upcoming draft.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Both Monares and Jaboneta carried much of UP’s offensive load and leadership responsibilities over the past five years under five different head coaches: Godfrey Okumu (Season 84), Shaq delos Santos (Season 85), Oliver Almadro (Season 86), Benson Bocboc (Season 87), and Fabio Menta (Season 88).
“Ako, magbe-beach muna ako. Titingnan ko kung saan ako dadalhin ng hangin,” Monares quipped.
Despite failing to reach the Final Four in all five of their playing years, Monares and Jaboneta took pride in helping steer UP’s resurgence in UAAP women’s volleyball.
From a five-win campaign in Season 84, to a combined two-win output across Seasons 85 and 86, the Fighting Maroons came close to a Final Four breakthrough in their final two seasons.
UP finished sixth in Season 87 with a 6-8 record before placing sixth again in Season 88 with a 5-9 slate.
“I would say since kaming tatlo, parang same same kami nag-start, we entered UP, and we played in UP parang sabay, hindi ‘yon madali. We witnessed seeing the crowd empty coming to now, seeing the UP crowd filling up the arena. Ako kasi, masasabi ko na my chest is gonna explode kasi somehow nandoon kami nung binubuo ang UP ngayon at kung ano yung UP na meron ngayon,” Monares expressed.
“Same lang din kay Joan na six years na ata kami sa UP, hindi na mabilang. Na-witness nga namin na grabe ang pagpasok mo sa arena, parang iilan lang ang nakasuot. Hindi naman ngayon lang, like nung mga past seasons din, unti-unting nabubuo na sila at dumadami na sila,” Jaboneta added.
“Sobrang saya namin na kahit aalis kami, nakikita namin na nandiyan sila talaga na magsu-support sa amin kahit wala na kaming tatlo rin.”
