WHEN Nina Ytang powered the University of the Philippines to a shock first-round win over defending champion National U two months ago, she allowed herself to believe.
Maybe, just maybe, UAAP Season 88 could finally be the volleyball Fighting Maroons' ‘Atin ‘To’ year.
READ: Ytang proclaims UP building towards own 'Atin 'to' season
It was a dream she had carried since her rookie season that, in that moment, felt within reach.
“Ito ‘yung parang dream come true talaga [kung makapasok kami sa Final Four],” Ytang told SPIN.ph.
“It’s been my dream since I was first year na makasali ang UP sa Final Four. And sana talaga, with God’s guidance, sana makasali kami.”
State U backed that belief early, opening the season 3-1 and climbing as high as third-place.
Then came the turning point.
Casiey Dongallo, the maroon-and-green’s prized recruit, was ruled out for the rest of the season with ACL and meniscus tears, derailing their momentum.
From there, UP dropped five of its next seven games, putting its Final Four bid on shaky ground.
Now in her final year, with the window closing and the margin for error gone, Ytang could only admit doubts have crept in.
“Of course naman po, meron pong talaga. Nagkakaroon talaga ng doubt. But sabi nga, hindi pa tapos ‘yung season na ‘to,” she said.
Indeed, she keeps reminding herself, it ain't over 'til it's over.
“Despite po sa mga naging result po ng past games namin, binibigay lang po talaga namin ‘yung best namin and hoping for the best result pa rin for this season,” she added, as they finally righted the ship with a straight-sets thumping of Katipunan rival Ateneo.
READ: UP injects new life into playoff hopes after sweeping Ateneo
“Sabi ko nga talaga, tiwala lang sa sarili namin and tiwala kay God kung mangyayari man. If it’s not His plan, baka may better plan para sa amin.”
Too little, too late?
With three teams standing in the way of UP’s first Final Four berth in a decade, head coach Fabio Menta is focused less on who lies ahead and more on what it will take to get there.
“We don’t care. We gotta go and win, wherever it is in front,” he said.
And so, until the very end, the Maroons' signature fight will keep coming.
“The team is changing, improving day by day. If it’s too late, I don’t know, because we are here to fight until the last minute,” their mentor said.
“We keep reorganizing. Now, we look good and it seems that we can do it. We believe we can do it. And all we have to do is go to work and produce some results.”
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