Inquirer 7 top UAAP women’s volleyball players: Week 5

Every week, INQUIRER Sports will be ranking the seven best performers in the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament. The author will base the rankings on the players’ team placings, statistics and observation.

The first round of the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament has come to a close, but this list isn’t.

Ateneo is the best team, University of the East is winless no more, University of the Philippines is skidding, and University of Santo Tomas is winning.

Without further ado, here are the seven best players who made the list.

Teaser, Jaja Santiago is back but Kim Kianna Dy isn’t.

Here are INQUIRER’s top seven players for Week 5.

1. Jia Morado (Ateneo de Manila University, setter)

Last week: No. 3

Weeks on list: 3

Jia Morado’s wizardry as Ateneo’s setter can’t be overlooked anymore.

Her 79 excellent sets against defending champions De La Salle was just absurd because that mark not only propelled the Lady Eagles to the victory but the sheer number is preposterous.

Morado’s play led the Lady Eagles to a league-best 6-1 record, and need this author say more?

2. Mich Morente (Ateneo de Manila University, opposite hitter)

Last week: N/A

Weeks on list: 2

Here’s a curious case about Ateneo: anybody from that team would’ve made this list in any given week.

Ateneo’s offense is so balanced that Bea De Leon, Jhoana Maraguinot, and even the young duo of Kat Tolentino and Maddie Madayag were also considered to be part of the ranking this week.

For this week, though, Mich Morente joined Morado as the other Lady Eagle to get the nod because of her exceptional play especially against De La Salle.

Morente, who missed all of Season 78 due to academic reasons, was on fire in her first Ateneo-La Salle game back as she put up a ridiculous stat line with 25 points, 19 digs, and 12 receptions.

Ateneo’s current record of 6-1 and she was a big part of it.

3. Cherry Rondina (University of Santo Tomas, outside hitter)

Last week: No. 6

Weeks on list: 2

It has been University of Santo Tomas’ week.

After struggling in the earlier part of the season, the Golden Tigresses are now on a three-game winning streak and Rondina is averaging 14.7 points during the run.

With a 4-3 record under their name, the Golden Tigresses are now in contention for a Final Four spot. 

Rondina, however, isn’t the only driving force behind UST’s surge.

4. EJ Laure (University of Santo Tomas, outside hitter)

Weeks on list: 1

UST seems to have found the chemistry between EJ Laure and Rondina.

Both are producing for the Golden Tigresses, and both have caused problems to the rest of the league. 

During UST’s unbeaten streak, Laure averaged 11.3 points while sharing the leadership role with team captain Rondina.

5. Dimdim Pacres (University of Santo Tomas, opposite hitter)

Weeks on list: 1

UST’s recent run isn’t just the handiwork of Rondina and Laure. 

Enter the unheralded Dimdim Pacres.

She isn’t the most notable of the three Golden Tigresses in this list but Pacres is sure as hell effective.

For the past two games, Pacres has averaged 11.5 points while playing as the third offensive option for the Golden Tigresses.

Pacres was instrumental in UST’s win over longtime rivals Far Eastern University and that victory capped off the Golden Tigresses three-game win streak.

6. Jaja Santiago (National University, middle blocker)

Last week: N/A

Weeks on list: 2

Jaja Santiago is back!

After appearing as theNo. 1 player in the first edition of this list, Santiago straight up disappeared in the next two.

Santiago, arguably, is the best individual this season, but her team’s three-game losing skid prevented her from appearing on this list for the past two editions.

All that changed Sunday when the Lady Bulldogs exorcised their demons and took a five-set win over the skidding UP, 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 15-12.

Santiago had 18 points in the win and more importantly retain her spot as the league’s most potent scorer as she averaged 18.28 points a match after the first round.

7. Shaya Adorador (University of the East, outside hitter)

Weeks on list: 1

University of the East finally won.

The Lady Warriors finished the first round with a 1-6 record ahead of the winless Adamson University, and Shaya Adorador made sure they got that victory.

Adorador fired 23 points against the Lady Falcons and that mark vastly improved her standing in the league’s best scorers list.

From the 15th spot, when she was averaging a dismal 9.5 points a match, Adorador rose to as far as 8th as she now averages 11.42 points.