Van Bangayan was brought to tears after University of the East suffered a heartbreaking loss to Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday.
The returning wing spiker gave her all in hopes of delivering the Lady Warriors’ first win in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
Despite her efforts, though, UE ended the first round winless.
Ateneo reached match point with a commanding 14-8 lead in the fifth set, but Bangayan sparked a furious rally, scoring four points in UE’s five unanswered points to trim the deficit to 13-14.
However, Lyann de Guzman sealed the win for the Blue Eagles with a decisive crosscourt kill, clinching a 20-25, 25-16, 22-25, 25-15, 15-13 victory at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Exhausted and emotional, Bangayan couldn’t hold back her tears during the singing of their Alma Mater Hymn.
“Kaya po ako naiyak siguro kasi gustong-gusto ko po talaga manalo para po, yun yung magiging twist sa amin na kapag nanalo kami, marami pong magbabago. Sa second round mas tatrabahuhin po namin yung mga kulang namin,” she told Tiebreaker Times.
Bangayan finished with a game-high 24 points on 24 attacks, while also contributing five digs and four receptions.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
It has been a challenging journey for Bangayan, who, alongside Khy Cepada, was once seen as the face of UE’s women’s volleyball program after Season 85.
That narrative shifted when California Academy’s standout recruits joined the Lady Warriors for college volleyball.
“Actually hindi po ako tinanggal, ako yung umalis talaga sa indoor. Pinapili ako non ni Doc Obet kung indoor ba or beach volley and I chose beach volley for my sanity na rin and nagpahinga lang po talaga ako,” Bangayan explained.
“Balak ko naman talaga bumalik and ayun, nabigyan ng chance ngayon bumalik, ginagrab ko na, tinatrabaho ko na.”
Bangayan competed in UE’s beach volleyball team during Seasons 86 and 87 before deciding to return to indoor volleyball after the Season 87 beach tournament.
The Lady Warriors — once considered a dark horse in the Season 87 indoor tourney — faced a major setback when the CAL players transferred to University of the Philippines, leaving Bangayan with increased responsibilities.
“Actually Season 86 pa lang kinakausap na ako ng teammates ko na bumalik, sila Khy, si Kayce. Then nag-decide ako na bumalik after beach volley nung Season 87. Sinabi ko sige try ko, nandoon pa yung mga lumipat,” she shared.
Now, Bangayan and Cepada are working to keep UE competitive despite the roster shake-up that hit the team hard.
Also stepping up for the Lady Warriors are holdovers Kayce Balingit, Riza Nogales, and Angelica Reyes, among others.
“Hindi lang para sa sarili ko, nagtitiwala po talaga ako sa teammates ko. Yung mga nag-stay po, sa kanila ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob kasi sobrang dami po naming pinagdaanan, hindi lang po yung mga nasabi. Sa teammates lang po talaga ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob ngayon,” Bangayan said.
#WATCH: Van Bangayan reflects on her journey from switching to beach volleyball to shining bright for UE
@justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/lxHZAFqvK8
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 15, 2025
