Romwel Anzures

University of the Philippines head coach Fabio Menta and the Fighting Maroons against Ateneo de Manila University in UAAP Season 88. UAAP Media.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1775644331172UAAP88 WVB - Coach Fabio Menta-3201.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">University of the Philippines head coach Fabio Menta and the Fighting Maroons against Ateneo de Manila University in UAAP Season 88.<em> UAAP Media.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — After winning just one of its previous six matches, University of the Philippines finally regained its winning ways in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball.</div><p>Niña Ytang, Jelai Gajero, and Irah Jaboneta stepped up as Fabio Menta’s wards swept Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday for their fifth victory in 11 games.</p><p>This kept State U in the Final Four hunt, with Adamson University and Far Eastern University not too far ahead at 6-5, and Menta remains upbeat about their chances moving forward.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/4/8/uaap-up-bounces-back-sweeps-ateneo-to-keep-final-4-hopes-alive-1614">READ: UP bounces back, sweeps Ateneo to keep Final 4 hopes alive</a></div><p>“I can say, with humbleness, that we hold our own destiny,” said the Italian coach, as UP heads into its final three matches of the eliminations.</p><p>Next up for the Fighting Maroons are FEU, Adamson, and University of Santo Tomas.</p><p>Menta is wary of each team’s prowess, with UP having lost to all three squads in the first round, and he knows their campaign hinges on how State U will perform against them.</p><p>“If we manage to beat these teams, then we deserve it. These three teams are exactly the perfect teams to show that we can make it,” he added.</p><p>The Fighting Maroons have aimed to end their 10-year Final Four drought since the preseason, but their progress has been hindered by untimely injuries to the likes of Casiey Dongallo and Joan Monares.</p><p>Menta acknowledged that these setbacks were detrimental to their cause, noting that the team had to scramble with adjustments as their system largely relied on having those key players available.</p><p>But for the 64-year-old coach, the team has rediscovered its footing, something they will rely on in their final three elimination games.</p><p>“We feel the urge now. The training and the atmosphere are different. Everybody is more focused. Sometimes, we don’t even talk. We know what to do, like today,” he said.</p><p>For Menta, the formula is straightforward: emerge victorious in their last three games.</p><p>“Win everything. We have no chances to slow down. So we’re not only thinking about today. We need to prove that we are worthy. So we need to give it all and just win,” he said. “Against those teams, you have to adapt, but we’ve got a common language, we know who we are, so we gotta go win whoever is in front.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong><br/><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b0RzSkcaV2g?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>“If we manage to beat these teams, then we deserve it. These three teams are exactly the perfect teams to show that we can make it,” he said. #UAAPSeason88</p>

“If we manage to beat these teams, then we deserve it. These three teams are exactly the perfect teams to show that we can make it,” he said. #UAAPSeason88

UAAP: Menta remains upbeat on UP’s Final Four chances — ‘We hold our destiny’

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UAAP: Menta remains upbeat on UP’s Final Four chances — ‘We hold our destiny’

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 08, 2026 09:56 PM PHT

Read More:

Volleyball

UAAP

ABSSports

UAAP Season 88

UAAP Volleyball

UAAP Final Four

UP Fighting Maroons

Fabio Menta

Nina Ytang

Irah Jaboneta

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