UST middle blocker Em Banagua put on a defensive masterclass during their straight-sets win over the UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, posting a career-high eight blocks in a 12-point performance that helped the Golden Tigresses clinch a UAAP Season 87 Final Four berth.
Banagua’s performance marked the third-most blocks in a single UAAP game and also set a historic block-per-set ratio (2.67), the highest ever recorded in UAAP women’s volleyball history.
After the victory against UP, Banagua said her performance had set a benchmark for what she hopes to accomplish in their final elimination round game and the Final Four.
“In the future, feel ko, ‘yong eight blocks ko dapat gawin ko na siyang standard,” Banagua said. “Pero I wouldn’t say standard kasi syempre may factors para magawa ko iyon. So every day sa training, kailangan ko i-focus ‘yong details sa blocking.”
The victory that sealed their Final Four spot was also a huge confidence boost for Banagua, who had just returned from a hand injury suffered in a game against Ateneo last March 29, after starting only in UST’s first two games this season.
“‘Yong game na ito, na-boost confidence ko, kasi … naisip kong kailangan kong ma-prove kanila coach na magamit ako sa court,” she said.
Despite her historic performance, the middle blocker acknowledged she still has a lot to polish in her game.
“Thankful din ako sa middle coaches namin, kasi every detail nila ine-emphasize (ang kailangan kong ma-perfect),” she said.
The UST Golden Tigresses will conclude their elimination-round run against the top-seeded NU Lady Bulldogs at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, April 27, at 5 p.m.
