Palarong Pambansa champion and MVP Jothea Mae Ramos with UP volleyball program director Oliver Almadro
Visayas prospects boost UP
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines has secured commitments from two promising Visayas prospects to bolster its women’s volleyball program.
Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s Jothea Ramos, a Palarong Pambansa MVP, and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s Joanneesse Gabrielle Perez were welcomed by the Fighting Maroons, who are hoping for a big-time turnaround after logging a combined six wins in the past two UAAP seasons.
“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 program director Oliver Almadro.
A 5-foot-9 opposite spiker of the Thunderbolts, Ramos led Western Visayas to the Palaro title, beating National University Nazareth School-powered National Capitol Region for the gold medal in Marikina last year.
She was also one of the vital cogs of Tay Tung’s championship conquest in the just-concluded Rebisco Volleyball League.
Ramos is currently in Grade 12 and is expected to play in Season 87 for the Fighting Maroons.
The 5-foot-8 Perez, who plays as a middle blocker, was a part of the Magis Eagles all-rookie CESAFI girls champion squad in 2022. SHS-Ateneo, however, lost to University of San Jose-Recoletos in last year’s Finals.
The two will be big boosts for a Fighting Maroons side which last advanced to the Final Four in 2016 behind Tots Carlos, Isa Molde, Nicole Tiamzon and Kathy Bersola.
Their move to Diliman was made possible by Frank Lao’s Strong Group Athletics, UP’s new backer for both the women’s and men’s volleyball team, as well as the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development under Director Bo Perasol.
“Itong mga ganitong recruit natin for our volleyball teams, we’re hoping they’re just the first of many. We have full faith in coach O na gaganda ang performance natin because of how he’ll oversee the development of all our veterans and rookies,” said the former Fighting Maroons men’s basketball coach.
