Joanneesse Gabrielle Perez (left) and Jothea Mae Ramos are the UP Fighting Maroons’ latest recruits from Visayas. –HANDOUT PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines— University of the Philippines women’s volleyball team secured the commitments of Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s Jothea Mae Ramos and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s Joanneesse Gabrielle Perez.
The Fighting Maroons on Wednesday announced their newest acquisitions from Visayas as program director Oliver Almadro continues to rebuild the program.
The 5-foot-9 Ramos, the former Bacolod Tay Tung captain, led Western Visayas to the 2023 Palarong Pambansa championship and also emerged as the tournament MVP.
The 5-foot-8 Perez was also a champion player when the Magis Eagles ruled the CESAFI juniors championship in 2022 and reached the finals anew in 2023.
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“The UP volleyball program and the UP community are really happy for the commitment of these two high school standouts. Aside from their talents, they will bring their aggressiveness and leadership to our UP WVT,” said Almadro of his two new players, who also shone in the 2022-23 Rebisco Volleyball League.
UP placed seventh last Season 85, winning only one of its 14 games.
The Fighting Maroons last reached the Final Four in Season 78 last 2016 during the rookie year of Tots Carlos and Isa Molde.
Frank Lao’s Strong Group, the new backer for both the WVT and Men’s Volleyball Team, and the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development under Director Bo Perasol made the commitments of Ramos and Perez possible.
“We’re hoping they’re just the first of many. We have full faith in coach O that our performance will be better because of how he’ll oversee the development of all our veterans and rookies,” said Perasol.