Two promising prospects from the Visayas will be helping program director Oliver Almadro in rebuilding the University of the Philippines women’s volleyball team.
Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s Jothea Mae Ramos and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s Joanneesse Gabrielle Perez have committed to the Fighting Maroons, who are hoping for a major turnaround after posting just six wins in the past two University Athletic Association of the Philippines seasons.
Ramos is the 5-foot-9 former skipper for Bacolod Tay Tung who led Western Visayas to the 2023 Palarong Pambansa title as tournament Most Valuable Player while the 5-foot-8 Perez helped carry the Magis Eagles to the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. junior title in 2022 before making another finals appearances in 2023. They also shone bright in the 2022-2023 Rebisco Volleyball League.
“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,” Almadro said.
The two spikers will be big boosts for a UP side that last advanced to the Final Four in Season 79, when Premier Volleyball League superstar Tots Carlos and Isa Molde were still at the helm.
Their move to Diliman was aided by Frank Lao’s Strong Group, the new backer for both the WVT and men’s volleyball team, as well as the UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development under Director Bo Perasol.
