THE rebuilding of the University of the Philippines' women's volleyball team, led by its new program director Oliver Almadro, has gained early momentum by retaining its star trio of Niña Ytang, team captain Jewel Encarnacion, and Nica Celis for UAAP Season 86.
All three Maroons have received and turned down offers to turn pro and play in the Premier Volleyball League, choosing to extend their collegiate careers with the Diliman side.
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"We are very grateful to Niña, Jewel, and Nica for remaining loyal to UP. Of course, we'd support them if they decided to turn pro, but we're even more excited that they're staying to continue the UP Fight in volleyball," said Almadro.
At 5-foot-8, Ytang caught the league by surprise in Season 85 when she emerged as the second best middle blocker (0.66 blocks per set), closely behind La Salle's towering defender Thea Gagate (0.69 blocks per set) — becoming only one of two awardees from non-Final Four teams last year.
Ytang, Celis, and Encarnacion, who took over the captaincy in the last two seasons, seek to turn UP's one-win campaign into a Final Four-contending run come Season 86 in February.
"Very important sila because they'll be the ones setting the standard and building the culture. We're very hopeful na yung mga bata at yung mga bago will follow the example they will set," said Almadro, who also recently welcomed top Visayan talents Jothea Ramos and Joanneesse Perez to the Diliman stable.
The former Ateneo mentor added that both UP's men's and women's volleyball teams have ramped up preparations for the upcoming season, with the new head coaches of the two squads set to be named in due course.
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