Wins have been hard to come by for the University of the Philippines in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
Entering Season 87, the Fighting Maroons had only secured two victories in the last two seasons — with their most recent win a 25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-17 triumph over the UE Lady Warriors on March 17, 2024.
But just two games into the new season, UP has already matched that total.
Their second win came in stunning fashion, toppling title-contender Far Eastern University with a 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23 conquest on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Leading the charge was third-year outside hitter Joan Monares.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“First of all, it took a lot of hard work for the team kasi yung panalo na ‘to hindi siya tsamba. Pinaghandaan namin ‘to, nag-training kami, naghirap kami sa training kasi gusto talaga naming manalo,” said the 23-year-old Bacolod native, who delivered 19 points on 17 attacks and two aces while also tallying eight digs.
“I’m happy kasi nagbubunga yung paghihirap namin.”
Adding to the emotional weight of the game, Joan faced off against her older sister Anne, who was on the other side of the net playing for the Lady Tamaraws.
Beyond her personal growth in maturity and experience — fueled by UP’s training stint in Japan and multiple preseason tournaments — Joan credited the influx of blue-chip recruits like Kianne Olango, Yesha Noceja, and Bienne Bansil for the team’s improvement.
Alongside veterans like Nina Ytang and Nica Celis, Joan has embraced a leadership role, helping foster team chemistry.
“Siguro with our experience, given talaga yung time last year na medyo bago yung team, players bago din. Compared siguro this season, malaking tulong yung rookies namin na galing high school kasi natutulungan din nila yung team namin para umangat,” she said.
“Bago din itong mga players, pero kami, we’re working on our connection sa court — inside and outside.”
And with rising stars like Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero waiting in the wings, UP is a team on the rise, a force just waiting to break through in the seasons to come.
