UP veteran hitter Irah Jaboneta tows her team to victory in the fifth set against Adamson to end round 1 of UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball action.
Irah Jaboneta made sure to embody the fighting spirit of a UP student-athlete when she took over for the Fighting Maroons in set 5 against the Adamson Lady Falcons, scoring seven points in the deciding canto to give UP its third win of UAAP Season 87 on Sunday.
After falling behind by one set, the Fighting Maroons leaned on balanced scoring in set 4 to drag Shaina Nitura and the Lady Falcons into the deep water. When it came to the winner-take-all period, Jaboneta was raring to go.
[RELATED: UP beats Adamson in five to spoil Shaina Nitura's new UAAP all-time scoring performance]
As one of the older players on the taraflex, Jaboneta felt that it was her responsibility to spearhead UP’s fight.
“Nadala lang din po ako na as a senior sa loob ng court, hindi pwedeng tahimik ako,” said Jaboneta after the game.
“Parang bigla rin akong nabuhayan na kailangan makita nila akong lumalaban. Para alam nila na lalaban din sila. Sabay kami. Lalaban para sa team. Kasi ginusto namin manalo kaya kailangan paghirapan namin,” she added.
Before the breakthrough against the Lady Falcons, the UP Fighting Maroons were on a four-game slide, and had looked hapless in their last few outings.
Knowing just how crucial the game against Adamson was, especially as they entered the game on equal records, Jaboneta was not amiss in giving her reminders to the team.
“Sabi ko lang, depensa, service, block, o kahit ano mang klaseng skill, kailangan lahat kami gumagalaw. Kasi hindi yun magiging possible kung isa lang yung gagawa,” she said.
“Yun nga, sobrang proud and happy kasi lahat naman gumawa, and talagang pinanindigan yung goal na manalo.”
In set 5, Jaboneta could not be stopped, even as Nitura continued to show the way for Adamson. The latter even set a new scoring record for UAAP women’s volleyball with a 38-point explosion.
At one point, Jaboneta scored all of UP’s points in a 6-point stretch. She then added the finishing blow after converting on match point with a through the block hit.
With her competitive spirit alive and kicking, Jaboneta said that she could feel that she was in for an explosive performance in the decider, which made her tell her teammates to give her the ball. Though not a fan of a one-woman show, Jaboneta said that she was simply eager to impact her team.
True enough, it was an endeavor that was highly supported by her teammates.
“Sa totoo lang po, parang mas ginusto ko talaga kasi ramdam ko na siya. Gusto ko talagang manalo so kahit anong bola, hinihingi ko na,” said Jaboneta.
“Thankful din ako sa mga teammates ko na nilabas nila yun sakin na meron pala akong ganon na andoon ako, ganon ako kagutom para ipakita or makakuha ng puntos para sa team. So sobrang happy lang po ako kasi sila din yung nagbigay sakin ng hunger na kaya ko pala magbigay ng ganong game,” she continued.
Jaboneta ended up as UP’s second leading scorer with 19 points. She also had a triple-double with 12 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
Niña Ytang was UP’s top offensive player with 20 points, while Joan Monares added a triple-double of her own with 15 points, 17 excellent digs, and 14 excellent receptions.
Another key contributor was Kianne Olango, who also had 15 markers.