Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles’ Jhoana Maraguinot has always been one of the UAAP’s best all-around players. Given her team’s struggles early in the UAAP Season 80 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, the Lady Eagles have needed all of Maraguinot’s versatility.
They might even need more out of her.
In Ateneo’s first four matches, a 2-2 win-loss split, the Batangas native has been Ateneo’s top scorer three times. In their latest win over the University of the East Lady Warriors, Maraguinot not only provided 20 points on an efficient clip, she also managed 12 digs and 12 excellent receptions.
Asked if she feels like she’s taken on a bigger scoring responsibility this season, Maraguinot shrugged the question off and insisted that all her teammates are offensive threats.
“Everybody on the team can score. Tsamba lang na naka-20 points ako,” the 21-year-old quipped.
“Pero kahit sino bigyan mo sa amin, kaya namang makapatay.”
Finalists for the last six seasons, Ateneo are in danger of having that streak broken as several contenders have sprouted this season.
The fourth-year Lady Eagle can heal a lot of Ateneo’s wounds in any given game. She knows that she needs to pay special attention to defense and reception, areas where the Lady Eagles are in the bottom of the league.
“Well every game naman sinasabihan kami (about defense and reception) and ayoko mapagalitan sa training,” she shared.
“Every game talaga kailangan isa ako doon sa tutulong sa libero because di naman kaya ng libero mag-isa ‘yun. Kailangan magtulungan.”
