MANILA, Philippines — It's finally official.Star spiker Casiey Dongallo as well as fellow University of the East players Kizzie Madriaga, Jelai Gajero, and Jenalyn Umayam have officially transferred to University of the Philippines ahead of the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.The UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development confirmed the humor transfers in a media release on Wednesday.Dongallo, Kizzie Madriaga, Gajero, and Umayam will serve a one-year residency and will be eligible to play for the Fighting Maroons in Season 88 next year.Another one-year deduction on their playing years will also be imposed due to new league rules for transfers made within UAAP schools.A 5-foot-7 spiker, Dongallo tallied the most points scored by a rookie last season with a total of 291 as UE finished sixth with a 3-11 record in Season 86 last year.Coach Obet Vital, who coached the aforementioned players during their high school days at California Academy in Antipolo and at UE as interim coach, practically triggered all these movements.Vital resigned from his UE post last December, citing differences in vision for leaving the Lady Warriors.Vital eventually joined UP as an assistant coach to head tactician Benson Bocboc and his players Dongallo, Madriaga, Gajero, and Umayam followed suit.'Their arrival is a sign that Mr. Frank Lao, SGA, and OASD are really sincere in developing the UP volleyball program. Their addition to our roster, together with our recruits this year, will definitely make our team a contender in the following years,' said UP volleyball program director Oliver Almadro.The Fighting Maroons, who last made the Final Four in 2017, finished dead last in Season 86 last year with a 1-13 slate.
