FROM one Fighting Maroon to another, Irah Jaboneta hopes to play a part in the University of the Philippines women’s volleyball's resurgence - just like how older brother Janjan helped lay the foundations for State U men’s basketball rise to greatness.
The 22-year-old winger showed grace under pressure in the Maroons' five-set fightback against Adamson on Sunday, with seven of her 19 points coming in the decider, as they wrapped up Round 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament as the fifth-ranked team.
READ: UP overcomes Nitura's 38 points to finally come back to life
With kuya Janjan in attendance inside the Araneta Coliseum, Irah was more determined than ever to put on a show and make both her school and family proud.
“Hindi ko ine-expect na manonood siya kasi may lakad siya ngayon. Umaapoy talaga yung loob ko kapag nandyan siya kasi isa siya sa motivations ko,” Jaboneta shared with SPIN.ph.
“Gusto ko lagi na kapag nandyan siya, nakikita niya 'kong gumagawa at naglalaro nang maayos.”
Janjan suited up for UP in the mid to late 2010s, getting a frontrow seat to the Fighting Maroons' slow but steady emergence from cellar-dwellers to playoff contenders.
He had already graduated when the maroon-and-green won its first title since 1986 back in 2022 and added another one two years later, but he was still connected to the team as part of its management.
From Fighting Maroons to winning Maroons
Now, Janjan has a frontrow seat to watch his little sister try to help UP move forward from totaling just two wins in the last two seasons.
So far, so good for Irah, as with another round to go, she and her teammates already have three wins under their belts.
And if her kuya got to feel the highs of getting out of the dark days, why can't she?
“Yung team nila, naging successful din po sila ng ilang seasons. Ako, gusto ko rin po yun na mangyari sa team and kung ano yung matutulong ko po sa team ngayon, yun lang din po yung ginagawa ko,” the younger Jaboneta said.
When it comes to advice, Janjan just hopes Irah will make the most of her time representing the Fighting Maroons.
For Irah more pointedly, however, leaving a legacy for Fighting Maroons volleyball - which has long been left in the dust - is her fuel to the fire.
As she put it, “Iba-iba yung mga naging sacrifices namin at marami kaming pinagdaanan sa UP kaya gusto talaga naming iangat bago man lang kami umalis.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
