FIRST things first, let's be clear that the University of the Philippines hasn't done - no less proven - anything yet in women's volleyball.
Presently on a nine-year playoff drought, the Fighting Maroons of the taraflex find themselves where their brothers of the hardcourt - now twice champions in four seasons - once were.
READ: Maroons in process of turning UP Fight into continued contention
And yet, something is in the air in Diliman. Perhaps newfound faith. Perhaps reinvigorated belief. Perhaps much-welcome hope.
While a 6-8, joint-fifth campaign in UAAP Season 87 is, by no means, reason to celebrate, it is nonetheless an improvement from the three wins combined of the two years prior.
And not only that, State U will return a mostly intact core led by three-time second best middle blocker Nina Ytang, Joan Monares, and Irah Jaboneta, alongside steadily developing youngsters Kianne Olango and Bienne Bansil and talented transferees Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero, and Kizzie Madriaga.
Of course, for the climb to continue, this promising group needs somebody to show the way. Think Jett Manuel. Think Paul Desiderio (in a strictly sporting sense). Think JD Cagulangan.
Good thing then that Monares is up to the task, being chosen to replace longtime leader Nica Celis.
And good thing then that for the nth time, she chose to stay in UP.
Joan makes her mark
As she was wrapping up her high school playing days in Bacolod Tay Tung in 2020, Monares was already of the mind that she was hanging up her cleats.
The tall task of balancing academics and athletics was just about to increase, and she thought she was all set on focusing on the former.
However, former Fighting Maroons head coach Godfrey Okumu convinced her to take her talents to Diliman, where she could be an immediate impact player for a rebuilding team.
Only, the pandemic happened - pressing pause on her young career after all. And after that, all still wasn't well with the maroon-and-green, as it replaced Okumu with Shaq Delos Santos, then switched from Delos Santos and his management team to Oliver Almadro and Strong Group Athletics (SGA).
Through it all, Monares stayed, having realized that UP was worth fighting for.
"Right now, I'm thinking and reflecting, and it was a good thing na nagtuloy ako kasi natutunan ko na you just don't give up when things get rough. Right now, I'm happy," she told SPIN.ph after she and her teammates capped off their Season 87 campaign.
Joan (out) of (the d)ark
And why wouldn't the 5-foot-10 spiker be happy?
Aside from team improvement, the past season also saw her personal breakthrough, as she averaged a team-high 12.21 points per game, while also ranking fifth overall in serving with 0.25 aces per set.
Even better, for the first time in her collegiate career, stability is very much present in the Fighting Maroons, with Almadro still program director and Benson Bocboc still shot-caller. Of course, SGA remains their steadfast supporter.
Now, it's all about taking the next step forward - and re-asserting the belief that they have it in them to take that next step forward.
"If we want yung goal na makapasok ng Final Four, we have to make changes. Hindi kami pwedeng mag-stay sa baba, dun sa nakasanayan nang culture before ng UP," the newly named skipper said.
"Kailangan ibahin yung mindset and perspective. Kailangan ayusin lahat. And ang good thing, unti-unti na naman siyang nagbubunga."
One last thing, let's be clear - yet again - that UP isn't there yet.
But with Monares front and center, they may very well be on their way.
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