Five years ago today, Maddie Madayag set a UAAP record for the most blocks in a single game.
She made 11 in Ateneo de Manila University’s 19-25, 22-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-11 win over University of Santo Tomas at the then-Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
Today, on March 20, 2024, that record was almost threatened by University of the Philippines’ Pling Baclay.
Baclay had just set a season-high of seven blocks in UP’s last game against University of the East.
She then tallied nine blocks in their 21-25, 32-30, 17-25, 19-25 defeat to National University.
She also contributed two points, finishing with a total of 11 points in her third start in place of Niña Ytang, who remained out due to personal reasons.
“Siyempre, happy po kasi kanina ko pa lang nalaman na naka-nine blocks ako. Hindi ko na iniisip na makaka-take ako, gusto ko lang na ma-organize yung block namin,” said Baclay, a rookie out of Naga College Foundation. “Ganon lang po yung iniisip ko palagi.”
One common denominator between the record-holder Madayag and the record challenger Baclay is head coach Oliver Almadro.
When Madayag set the landmark back in Season 81, Almadro was still the tactician of the Lady Eagles.
Now, he’s handling the Fighting Maroons.
Having mentored both the now-Choco Mucho middle blocker and UP’s rising force at the net, Almadro knows that Baclay is taking the same route Madayag trekked before.
“Sabi nga namin kanina after makita namin, ‘Oh! Konti na lang magagawa mo na yung nagawa ni Maddie’ But you know si Maddie, different nilalang yun eh. I mean talagang bato-bato yun,” said Almadro.
“But I know Baclay will be going there as long as she keeps on working hard and keeps herself humble,” he continued.
Baclay was one of the feel-good stories for the struggling Fighting Maroons, who are at the bottom of the league at 1-7.
And if they had dragged the Lady Bulldogs to a deciding set, who knows what could have happened.
