A team logo of a balled-up fist and the chants of “matatapang, matatalino, walang takot, kahit kanino.” Even its moniker has the word “Fighting” in it.

Everything visual is there, but the University of the Philippines is playing with the incredible courage to back them all up, with the Fighting Maroons continuing to put its ideals into action in trying to fan their slim Final Four hopes in the UAAP Season 87, women’s volleyball tournament.

Surrender is not in their vocabulary, all because of a dream.

“It has always been the dream of the team to enter the Final Four,” Joan Monares said after a mammoth 26-24, 18-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14—upset of La Salle last Sunday. “So we will fight for it with all we’ve got.”

Sitting just outside the semifinal bracket, the Maroons are on a tear, winning three of its five games in the second round counting another marathon stunner against defending champion National University before that conquest of the Lady Spikers.

Holding a 6-6 card, the Maroons had a rocky first round, giving the impression that they weren’t capable of winning against the traditional powers. Until they put a dent on the Lady Bulldogs’ hitherto unblemished run, the Maroons have now made everyone nervous.

And somehow, there is a glimmer of hope with its victory against the Lady Spikers and Far Eastern University’s defeat at the hands of Adamson muddling things up in the race for a semifinal seat.

Perennial fifth

“Niña [Ytang] and I, have said it before: the ball is round so as long as we are fighting, there is a chance,” Monares went on. “As long as we are holding on, there is a chance.”

The Maroons last made the Final Four in Season 78 as they have finished at No. 5 almost every year since then.

This batch of Maroons are looking to end that trend with the more experienced cogs such as Monares, Ytang, Irah Jaboneta and Dannica Celis leading the charge.

“Part of our responsibilities as seniors is to be courageous. To be the first to step up as a senior (player),” Monares said. “Inside the court, we need to lift our teammates, to be the first to compose ourselves for the team.

“It’s a big responsibility because they are depending on us,” she went on. “So I hope I am able to do my part together with my batch mates.”

UP closes out against another heavyweight in University of Santo Tomas, which will come into their game seeking to stay in the hunt for the last twice-to-beat incentive. After that, the Maroons get their chance at Adamson and super rookie Shaina Nitura.

That certainly won’t be an easy stretch—not for any team in the field.

But the Maroons will be there fighting for that dream. INQ