UAAP: UP women’s volleyball team vows to keep fighting amid ‘chaos’

Nina Ytang. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Nina Ytang and Abi Goc vowed that University of the Philippines will keep on striving in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament, amid the “mismanagement” issues. 

Days after their letter circulated online stating that the team has been bothered by numerous issues since Season 84, UP earned its first win of the season, overcoming University of the East, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 25-20, on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Ytang, who unleashed 20 points, including a season-high seven blocks, is grateful for all the support that the Fighting Maroons have been receiving.

“Siguro normal naman sa kahit sinong UAAP team na magkaroon ng kani-kanilang problema. Kami as a team, na normal na team lang din sa UAAP, nagkakaroon lang din kami ng mga problema namin sa team at sa ibang bagay bagay,” said the sophomore middle blocker. 

“Thankful din kami kasi andiyan kami para sa isa’t isa, mga teammates namin, mga ates ko andiyan sila para i-guide kaming mga bata. Thankful ako kasi hindi kami nagpaapekto sa mga nangyayari sa amin,” she added.

(It’s normal for UAAP teams to face different problems. We, as a team, are also going through our problems. We’re thankful because we stick together and our ates are there to guide us. I’m also thankful that we don’t let our problems affect us.)

The Fighting Maroons wore pink ribbons during the game to celebrate women’s month and boost the morale of their team coming off their first two losses and the chaos around their team. Their fans and alumni were also clad with pink ribbons and holding a #SaveUPWVT sign to express their support.

Abi Goc, who is playing her first UAAP season despite being with UP for five years, bared that they are fixing the issues within their team.

“Despite the chaos happening around our team, we are fighting for our rights and at the same time, we are fixing [the issues] within the team,” Goc said after providing the spark off the bench with nine points.

“We’re thankful to the UP community. They never left us. And as a senior, it feels good to fight for our university. Thank you to all our supporters for both men’s and women’s volleyball. Let’s support all sports,” added the veteran spiker in Filipino.

The petition signed by 21 players to reinstate Nowhere To Go But UP Foundation, Inc. (NTGBUP) in managing the women’s volleyball team program dated last January 29 “was not granted” by the Office of the Diliman Chancellor, and the College of Human Kinetics, according to NTGBUP Foundation chairman Jed Eva III on Wednesday.

The UP College of Human Kinetics Dean Kiko Diaz on Saturday released a statement, saying they acknowledged the concerns aired by the UP women’s volleyball team and already met with UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo.

“We have met with the Chancellor on these concerns and have had a dialogue with the parties concerned. We are now continually addressing their specific requests and have secured the support and commitment of team sponsors who will continue to provide us with funding and other team necessities that will enable our athletes to prepare well for competition,” read the statement. 

“We will do our respective parts to lift up our men’s and women’s volleyball teams and all our varsity teams as we jointly commit to honor and excellence. We have shown this with the recent success of our Men’s Basketball Team and we aim to replicate this with all our varsity teams.”

With UP improving to a 1-2 record, Goc promises to continue to guide her teammates and fight for their rights.

“We fought for our rights and we are thankful for the coaches and UP community and everyone who is fighting for us. Inside the court, we need to focus, we need to work on everything and tune out from the [issues],” Goc said. “We will continue to guide each other, especially now that we have to strive more to win our remaining games.”