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| Rod Roque (c/o UAAP) |
Games Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym
Girls (Court 1)
9 a.m. – UPIS vs UE
11 a.m. – NUNS vs UST
1 p.m. – AdU vs FEU-D
3 p.m. – DLSZ vs Ateneo
Boys (Court 2)
9 a.m. – FEU-D vs Ateneo
11 a.m. – DLSZ vs UPIS
1 p.m. – UST vs UE
3 p.m. – NUNS vs AdU
UNIVERSITY of the East makes its return to UAAP high school girls volleyball after a six-year absence as it plays UP Integrated School today (Sunday) at the newly renovated Blue Eagle Gym.
The tournament marks the league's return to the fabled Katipunan venue, now air-conditioned, after three years.
The Junior Lady Warriors were known to be a powerhouse in the UAAP.
In UAAP Season 69 (2006), UE beat the Alyssa Valdez-led University of Santo Tomas to capture its fifth and most recent high school girls’ volleyball title, with Giza Yumang as MVP.
The last time UE fielded a high school girls' volleyball team was in UAAP Season 82 (2019). Libero Angge Reyes is the remaining member of that team, which was then led by Chris Ann Susbilla, who is currently with the Lady Warriors.
As UE fast-tracks its preparations for the comeback season, Janella Mangahis, as team captain, knows that immediate jelling is the key to their campaign.
"As a captain, nagse-step up po ako. Lahat po kami magse-step up since malapit na ang competition. We are trying hard po every training. Nakikita ko po yung development namin ng bawat isa," the 17-year-old spiker said in a recent television interview.
The school's former PE director, Rod Roque, will serve as the head coach of the girls volleyball team.
Roque, a former UAAP Board of Managing Director, is not new to the position. Aside from having handled the Junior Warriors during the height of their 12-peat in the high school boys division, Roque also steered UE's women's volleyball team on an interim basis in UAAP Season 80 (2018), replacing Francis Vicente.
The Junior Warriors and the Fighting Maroons open a heavy four-match fixture at 9 a.m.
Reigning girls champion National University Nazareth School and last season's third placers UST collide at 11 a.m., while Season 86 titlist Adamson University and Far Eastern University-Diliman clash at 1 p.m.
De La Salle-Zobel and Ateneo take the floor at 3 p.m.
Den Daylisan and Harlyn Serneche, among the key players from last year's title run, have already moved up to college ranks, but the Lady Bullpups have enough talent to contend, led by Diza Berayo.
After serving a one-year residency, Erin Sotto and Mishka Estrada will finally make their debut for the Junior Tigresses, who still have a solid core led by Kim Rubin. Last year's top middle blockers, Avril Bron and Lianne Penuliar, have completed their playing years.
The Belen-Pepito rivalry goes on, with Bubay, younger sister of Bella—whose No. 4 women's volleyball jersey was retired by NU—and Chasliey, the niece of multi-decorated UST libero Detdet, hoping to contribute to their respective teams.
The Baby Falcons will be without Abby Segui and last year's MVP Sam Cantada, who are now playing in the college ranks, and Season 86 Rookie of the Year Ella Gonzalvo will lead the task of helping the team reclaim the throne.
Aleah Devosora will banner the Baby Tamaraws' campaign.
UST sets in motion its title-retention campaign in the boys division against UE at 1 p.m., followed by the NUNS-Adamson contest at 3 p.m.
FEU-Diliman and Ateneo collide at 9 a.m., while De La Salle-Zobel and UPIS duke it out at 11 a.m.
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