Daily Tribune
UP middle blocker Niña Ytang punches through the defense of NDDU’s Angelica Depita and Rhose Capili in the Fighting Maroons’ straight sets win in the 2025 SSL National Invitationals Davao Leg.
Photograph courtesy of SSL
Games today:
(University of Southeastern Philippines Gym)
3:30 p.m. — NDDU vs Davao Selection
5:30 p.m. — NU vs UP
DAVAO CITY — Veteran Niña Ytang displayed maturity and composure in leading University of the Philippines (UP) past pesky Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (NDDU), 25-16, 27-25, 25-12, for back-to-back wins in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals Davao Leg Saturday at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gym.
Ytang’s leadership saved the Fighting Maroons from a second-set meltdown, where the team went down by as many as seven, to get within a win away from ruling the first of the tournament’s three provincial stops.
“Niña’s growing so much. Even physically she’s fitter than before, she’s jumping more. I think she’s starting to understand her potential value. She’s not looking at herself like what she is, I think she’s looking at herself as what she’s gonna be,” UP head coach Fabio Menta said of his prized middle blocker.
Ytang fired 13 points, seven in the second set, off eight attacks three aces and two kill blocks. Jelai Gajero had 13 points, nine in the opening frame, while Casiey Dongallo and Irah Jaboneta added eight points each for UP.
The Fighting Maroons went down, 8-15, as NDDU went on a roll behind sisters Kate and Kaye Lopez.
Ytang took matters into her own hands to erase the deficit, igniting the Fighting Maroons’ blistering 7-0 rally with three straight points off a kill block followed by back-to-back aces.
The Lady Kingfishers threatened once again after taking a 24-22 set point advantage. UP saved a point off a Joan Monares hit before Ytang put her team back on top, 25-24, with consecutive kills.
Kaye Lopez knotted it at 25 but UP salvaged the frame off a Jaboneta hit and a costly error by NDDU.
The Fighting Maroons controlled the third set early to send the Lady Kingfishers to their second loss in as many games.
UP will take on defending champion National University on Sunday in a marquee match that will decide the leg winner.
“We’re not the favorites, meaning we just got started and they are the champions. So, it’s gonna be interesting for us to see how mature we are in dealing with heavy pressure from the opponents,” Menta said.
Kate Lopez led NDDU with eight points, Kaye Lopez had six while Rhose Capili added five.
