UP appoints Fabio Menta as women’s volleyball head coach

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons are ready for a new era of women’s volleyball after naming Italian mentor Fabio Menta as their new head coach for the upcoming UAAP season on Jan. 22, 2026.

UP’s off-season development was also announced by UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development Director Bo Perasol, stating that Menta’s acquisition will bring out the best in the program’s young and promising roster.

Menta’s first coaching stint in the Philippines took place in 2016, when he called the shots for Foton Pilipinas during the Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship.

Since that exposure, the experienced Italian tactician accepted several consultancy gigs with PHL-based clubs, specifically Strong Group Athletics’ (SGA) Premier Volleyball League teams, Farm Fresh, and ZUS Coffee.

Now, Menta’s tough test is bringing the Fighting Maroons back to the Final Four, where they last made the UAAP post-season in 2016.

The Fighting Maroons achieved an 8-6 win-loss record during Season 78, led by the core of Tots Carlos, Isa Molde, Kathy Bersola, Nicole Tiamzon, and Ayel Estrañero.

It was UP’s last magical season, during which they also ended a 13-year UAAP playoff drought, before losing to the top-seeded Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Lady Eagles, anchored by Alyssa Valdez.

UP’s campaign during the recent UAAP season fell short, as they only finished in 6th place with a 4-10 win-loss record.

Menta is looking to bring his winning mentality to the Fighting Maroons, boasting a 30-year coaching experience that started in the Bahamas.

A year after his first coaching stint, Menta immediately secured a championship title with the Nassau Texaco Stars and handled the Bahamas’ women’s and men’s national teams from 1998 to 2001.

Menta then boosted his coaching stock and toured around the world as a mentor, signing with clubs in Italy and the Cook Islands.

“Lahat tayo sa UP ay nagtitiwala at naniniwala that the Final Four is very much within our reach,” said Perasol, UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development Director.