UP volleyball team announces retaining young players

MANILA, Philippines -- After securing two high-profile volleyball prospects from the Visayas, good news continue to arrive for the UP Fighting Maroons.

UP's core of Niña Ytang, Jewel Encarnacion and Nica Celis are staying put for the upcoming UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball competition, the team said.

UP volleyball program director Oliver Almadro said that Ytang, Encarnacion and Celis will stay with the team despite offers for them to turn pro and play in the Premier Volleyball League.

"We are very grateful to Niña, Jewel, and Nica for remaining loyal to UP. Of course, we'd support them if they decided to turn pro, but we're even more excited that they're staying to continue the UP Fight in volleyball," Almadro said in a statement.

"They are very important because they'll be the ones setting the standard and building the culture. We're very hopeful that the kids and the newbies will follow the example they will set," he added.

On Wednesday, the team announced that 2023 Palarong Pambansa Most Valuable Player Jothea Ramos and CESAFI juniors champion Joanneesse Perez's commitment to UP.

The Fighting Maroons won just one game in UAAP Season 85.

Ytang, who was the UAAP's Second Best Middle Blocker last season, will continue to lead UP.

UP is still without head coaches for both women's and men's teams, Almadro bared, but the teams "have long been hard at work in preparation for Season 86."