Tovic Salvador

The UP Fighting Maroons women’s volleyball team with new coach Fabio Menta. Handout photo/UP OASD.

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div style="line-height:1.5"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769061786199att.64jEIblErJ92mBIuHLXxd4p-zgsw4DCyCKZ4vjxLfag.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The UP Fighting Maroons women’s volleyball team with new coach Fabio Menta. Handout photo/UP OASD. MANILA — Veteran mentor Fabio Menta is the new head coach of the UP women&#x27;s volleyball team, the Fighting Maroons announced on Thursday.</div>Still with the support of sponsor Frank Lao and his Strong Group Athletics (SGA), the 64-year-old Italian has been officially appointed as the Fighting Maroons&#x27; new mentor, and his first UAAP campaign will commence in the Season 88 tournament in mid-February.&quot;We are excited to see how coach Fabio will bring out the best in this young and very promising roster that we have. Lahat tayo sa UP ay nagtitiwala at naniniwala that the Final Four is very much within our reach,&quot; said UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol.Menta first came to the Philippines in 2016 to call the shots for Foton Pilipinas, the national team-backed iteration of Philippine Superliga side Foton Tornadoes, in the 2016 Asian Women&#x27;s Club Volleyball Championship. His resume includes national and club team stints in Italy, the Bahamas, and the Cook Islands.Last year, he was tapped to be a consultant for SGA&#x27;s squads in the Premiere Volleyball League in Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee before taking over the coaching post in Diliman.UP is coming off a joint fifth-place finish in Season 87, with a 6-8 win-loss record.They are now setting their sights on a return to the Final 4, with star middle blocker Nina Ytang, Kianne Olango, Irah Jaboneta, Joan Monares, and setter Jaz Manguilomotan leading the way.They will be reinforced by Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero, Kizzie Madriaga, and Nigerian Ali Sarah Otukugu, as UP tries to end a near-decade playoff drought.&quot;He brings a good system which the team needs. We know what to do inside and outside the court because of that good system,&quot; said Jaboneta.

A brand new energy can be felt in UP, with seasoned tactician Fabio Menta taking over coaching the Fighting Maroons in #UAAPSeason88.women's volleyball.

A brand new energy can be felt in UP, with seasoned tactician Fabio Menta taking over coaching the Fighting Maroons in #UAAPSeason88.women's volleyball.

UAAP: UP taps Fabio Menta as new women’s volleyball coach for Season 88

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Volleyball

UAAP: UP taps Fabio Menta as new women’s volleyball coach for Season 88

ABS-CBN News

Published January 22, 2026 02:20 PM PHT

|

Updated January 22, 2026 02:35 PM PHT

Read More:

Volleyball

UAAP

ABSSports

UAAP Season 88

UAAP Volleyball

UP Fighting Maroons

Fabio Menta

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.