UP Preventing Maroons’ Joan Monares within the UAAP Season 87 girls’s volleyball match. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER>web

MANILA, Philippines — Joan Monares has emerged as one of many College of the Philippines’ go-to scorers, main the Preventing Maroons’ sizzling 2-0 begin within the UAAP Season 87 girls’s volleyball match.

For the second straight sport, UP turned to Monares, who erupted for 19 factors constructed on 17 spikes and two aces, serving to stun contender Far Jap College, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23, on Wednesday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan Metropolis.

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SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 volleyball match first spherical

Monares believes her return from a left ankle harm that sidelined her in Season 85 made her stronger and ready her to steer the younger Preventing Maroons this 12 months. 

“Coming from an harm, it was exhausting maintaining with the gamers as a result of I simply bought again. For me, this 12 months I actually preapred, bodily, mentally and emotionally,” Monares advised Inquirer Sports activities.

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Joan Monares rises for a success in opposition to two FEU defenders to carry UP Preventing Maroons within the UAAP Season 87 girls’s volleyball match. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web

The Bacolod Tay Tung Excessive College product averaged 18.0 factors within the first two video games together with their five-set win over the College of the East final Sunday.

However the third-year spiker is  stillnot contented with their sturdy begin as opesshe h to make up for her time when she struggled previously season.

READ: UAAP: UP fends off FEU, goes 2-0 in girls’s volleyball

“I’m actually hoping that I can contribute extra to them group as a result of final 12 months we have been missing, and likewise yung expertise final season we had somewhat little bit of low [morale],” she mentioned.

“Hopefully, this season is an efficient season for us as a result of we’re actually coaching exhausting, we’re taking part in with our hearts, our satisfaction and most of all we’ve group work as a result of we’re at all times serving to one another out.

UP beat FEU for the primary time for the reason that second spherical of Season 84 final June 2, 2022. It was Joan’s first win over her youthful sister Ann, the Woman Tamaraws’ libero.

“I do know they gave their finest, however we did too. It wasn’t simply luck—we labored exhausting in coaching as a result of we actually wished to win,” Joan mentioned.

Monares believes UP’s new system beneath coach Benson Bocboc and their new gamers led by prized rookie Kianne Olango, who had 17 factors to backstop her, resulted of their good begin.

“With our expertise given talaga yung time final 12 months na medyo bago yung group, gamers bago din, in contrast siguro this season malaking tulong yung rookies namin na galing highschool na natutulungan din nila yung group namin para umangat. We’re engaged on our connection sa courtroom, inside and outdoors,” she mentioned.

Monares and the Preventing Maroons eye their third win in opposition to the shorthanded Ateneo Blue Eagles (0-2) on Sunday at Mall of Asia Area.