First-year player Fina Ali emerged as the heroine for head coach Fabio Menta and the University of the Philippines as they upended Ateneo in a five-set thriller, 17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 16-14, in the UAAP Season 88 women's volleyball at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay Sunday, Feb. 22.
Ali was inserted as a sub in the second set, as the Fighting Maroons dealt with health issues across their lineup.
With a chance to complete a reverse sweep in the fifth as UP faced a 14-all standoff, Ali scored to push her team to their second match point at 15-14.
Niña Ytang then denied Ana Hermosura at the net to seal the comeback.
Ali tallied 13 points, including four in the deciding set.
After the match, Menta lauded Ali's impact.
“I could write a book on this game… We had five players kind of injured. So, we couldn't really find the tempo, the rhythm that we normally have," said Menta.
"Finally, we found a way to play our own game because we were worrying too much about what was happening on the other side. So, when we found that kind of rhythm, that kind of game that we like more, we became more effective.
“And then, today, actually, Fina played her first game and she was amazing. So, we had help from basically the whole roster. Those ones that couldn't, that didn't come in, they really had pain. So, I just scraped the bottom of the barrel to find the energies to win,” he added.
Fina Ali shows what she can do for the UP Fighting Maroons. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Ali performed well despite her self-confessed jitters. Not being used to playing in front of big crowds, she could not help but deflect credit.
“First, I'm nervous. It's kind of like my first time being in front of people like this. And me going inside, I didn't change the game. I believe we all did it," said Ali.
"We adapted to the system, and then from there, everything happened. It just happened. And I appreciate everyone. From the coach, everyone. We really fight, and I'm happy for everyone.”
Seeing Ali's potential, Menta dubbed the foreign student-athlete as one of the league’s “biggest projects” in the coming years.
“As you know, Fina is new and very young. And she worked with us for eight months. So, she's still learning the system, learning, memorizing situations that we have… Technically, she improved so much in the last seven months. We changed the way she serves, the way she approaches the net, the way everything,” the Italian mentor said.
“So, Fina is one of the greatest projects probably in the UAAP for the next years. And she will prove it. But she proved it already today. She's very calm, sometimes even too calm. But she's understanding the game very well, and she belongs to this team big time,” he continued.
The UP Fighting Maroons break the hearts of the Ateneo Blue Eagles. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Stepping up to the plate
Regardless of how everybody else sees her, the 18-year-old Nigerian hitter is only concerned with how she feels about herself.
Marking her debut with a triumph over the Blue Eagles, she believes there’s more she can offer, especially with bigger and tougher opponents looming.
“I've been waiting for this time. I mean, I've been here for like, I watched two seasons already, but I wasn't able to play. And me playing, today being my first day, and all of a sudden, I happen to be the one that changed the game. I feel my confidence now is well boosted up,” she said.
“I feel I can do better. This is just like a plus sign for me, and it's kind of like reminding me that I have more to give. I can do it.”
Ali complemented Ytang, who turned in a team-high 15 points. Irah Jaboneta came through with 14 markers before exiting in the fifth set due to cramps.
Niña Ytang tracks the ball in UP's match against Ateneo. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero added 13 and eight points, respectively, in the victory that pushed UP to 2-0.
Meanwhile, four Ateneo players finished in double digits, with Jlo Delos Santos logging a career-high 20 points. She also had 11 excellent digs.
Ana Hermosura scored 19 in her best performance as a rookie.
Zey Pacia and Donna De Leon contributed 14 and 15 markers, respectively, for the Blue Eagles, who are now down 0-2.
Ali and the Fighting Maroons face La Salle, also at 2-0, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao Wednesday, Feb. 25.
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Luisa Morales is a sportswriter with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.