SAN Juan's Filoil EcoOil Centre has been an unlikely playground for the University of the Philippines over the last few UAAP women's volleyball tournaments.
For starters, the Fighting Maroons just pulled off the biggest upset yet in UAAP Season 87.
READ: UPset: Fighting Maroons put first blemish on Lady Bulldogs record
State U dealt defending champion National U its first league loss in 10 months through a spirited five-set fightback.
In head coach Benson Bocboc’s words, their nine-kilometer trips from the Diliman campus to the San Juan venue made playing Filoil games much more favorable than any other site.
“Mas malapit yung biyahe namin, 30 minutes, nandyan na sila (sa venue). Ang dami naming kino-compute na biyahe lagi para sa MOA [Arena],” Bocboc said.
READ: Ex-Bullpups Olango, Bansil bring bite to UP upset of NU
But before putting the league on notice today, there had been quite a few more maroon-and-green breakthroughs in San Juan.
FEB. 19, 2025: UP shocks Final Four contender FEU
Back in the first round, UP only needed four sets to complete one of the season’s most surprising outcomes yet against Far Eastern University, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23.
And with that win, the Fighting Maroons eclipsed their win total from both Seasons 85 and 86.
It was also the first time in three seasons that State U won its first two games of the elimination round.
Also in Season 84 was UP’s last victory over its Morayta counterparts to complete a two-game, head-to-head elimination round sweep.
Joan Monares and Irah Jaboneta led the winning fight with a 19-point, eight-dig performance and an all-around 11 points, 12 digs, and seven receptions, respectively.
APR. 4, 2018: Last UP win vs. NU
It was back at a time when the San Juan venue was called ‘The Arena’ that UP last took down National U.
Although then, it was a 25-18, 25–22, 25-25-20 straight-sets shutout.
Now-PVL stars Tots Carlos fired 18 markers and Isa Molde pitched in 10.
Then led by now-Galeries Tower deputy coach Godfrey Okumu, that win opened a small window for the Fighting Maroons to still reach the Final Four.
But after ending the elimination round at 6-8, State U settled for a sixth-place finish instead.
FEB. 28, 2018: Tots erupts for 32 points
UP broke a four-game skid in San Juan in Season 80 at University of Santo Tomas’ expense, 31-33, 25-23, 25-16, 25-12.
Before Nina Ytang set her career-best 30-piece, it was Carlos who had the highest single-game scoring output by a Fighting Maroon seven years ago.
READ: Ytang, UP send statement with titanic takedown of National U
In this win, Carlos dished out 32 points built on 27 attacks in just four sets to repulse Sisi Rondina’s 27-piece. Molde backed Carlos’ cause with 24 markers of her own.
Blocking also proved to be State U’s strong suit in this game with 14 against UST’s three.
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