BY Andrei Barrantes
DON'T look now, but the University of the Philippines is currently undefeated in UAAP Season 87.
While two wins may very well be far from reasons to celebrate, not only did the Fighting Maroons alraedy double their lone win from Season 86, they also did so at the expense of last year’s bronze finishers in Far Eastern University.
READ: UP eclipses win total last year after four-set stunner over FEU
At the helm of this surprising victory were seniors Nina Ytang who chipped in 15 points and four blocks and Nica Celis who rallied her troops to the best of her abilities.
For the tenured student-athletes of Diliman, winning two games in two tries is a breath of fresh air for the ladies in maroon-and-green.
“We havent had the best season for the past many years, [so] it was very, very, very, very fulfilling. Words can't explain how good it felt,” Celis said.
Coach Boc's impact
One of the reasons for this positive start is new head coach Benson Bocboc.
Under the tutelage of the former La Salle deputy, State U played fluid defense against the scrambling Lady Tamaraws, suffocating them at the net and leaving it all out on the court with their floor defense.
READ: UP's Monares on four-set takedown of FEU: 'Hindi siya tsamba'
However drastic their new system may look, the adjustment wasn’t that gruelling at all.
“Actually, hindi po siya mahirap. Kasi kahit ‘yung coaches nag-aapproach po sila. Of course, trabaho po nila na i-train kami, pero nagkakaroon po kami ng unexpected relationship na friendship,” said Ytang.
“Mostly, coach Boc was finding a way na mag-connect kami or magsama-sama, like collected effort. Ano yung kulang ng team, what could work, ano yung strengths ng player, how we can work with the player’s strength instead of trying to work outside [of] our own capabilities,” Celis added.
Aside from the coaching rehaul, another major adjustment for the Celis and Ytang is their evolving leadership roles within the team.
For Ytang, being called UP's ate is a loose term, as their talented rookies have more than proven they can hold their own.
As she put it, “Of course po, as an ate sinusubukan namin mag-guide, but actually meron din po sila sarili nilang isip, sarili nilang husay, at tapang po na pinapakita po sa loob ng court. Hindi po talaga siya mahirap kasi tinutulungan din po nila kami as much as tinutulungan po namin sila.”
For her part, Celis may play the role of elder sister in the sense of on-and-off court guidance, but never will it also entitle them to being superiors.
“Definitely, siyempre nagiging ate na talaga kami on and off the court, especially off the court. Kasi mga bata nga, andyan ‘yung medyo excited pa talaga kasi kakapasok lang sa [team], so they need constant guidance,” she shared.
“But overall on-court, we’re pushing the term na there’s no seniority, there’s no ate-ate on-court. We’ve been here before, we know the feeling, but overall walang mataas walang mababa.”
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.
