Pia Cayetano: ‘Strongest’ UP team has chance to make UAAP Finals

FILE – UP Lady Maroons. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of the Philippines just got one heck of a believer. 

Sen. Pia Cayetano, a UP alum, on Sunday said the current squad of the Lady Maroons has the best chance of making it into the UAAP women’s volleyball finals. 

“This is the strongest team that has the chance to go to the Finals, so I have hopes to see them in the Finals,” said Cayetano, who was in attendance during UP’s game against Ateneo at Filoil Flying V Centre.

UP first showed some glimpses of its brilliance back in Season 78 when the Lady Maroons managed to get into the Final Four as the fourth seed, and though they lost to eventual runners-up Ateneo, it was the beginning of an impending development.

The Lady Maroons tore through the Season 79 with four straight wins to begin their campaign with Diana Carlos, Justine Dorog, Marian Buitre, and Isa Molde providing the youthful offense and the pair of Nicole Tiamzon and Kathy Bersola giving the veteran stability.

UP’s catalyst, however, is setter Ayel Estrañero, who has been instrumental in the Lady Maroons’ surprising dominance of the league.

And though the Lady Maroons saw its winning streak end at the hands of Ateneo in straight sets, 25-14, 25-19, 25-21, Cayetano said they should never lose hope, as their setback is a natural part of the sport.

“Everyone wants their team to win but sometimes there are valuable lessons when you lose so that’s how I look at it,” said Cayetano, who graduated cum laude in 1985. “That’s what I told them when I went to the dugout.”

“They should learn from this lesson and there’s never an easy way to get to the championship so it’s part of playing. You can’t win them all, but of course I would’ve wanted to see them win but it’s all part of it.”