Aaaand she's back!

Former UST standout Maruja Banaticla is the Player of the Game in the opening-day match between SMART and FEU at the Shakey's V-league Open Conference at the San Juan Arena. (Photo courtesy Shakey's V-League Facebook page)

SMART team's open hitter Maruja Banaticla—the former UST star who didn't see much action in the previous seasons of UAAP and the Shakey's V-League—emerged as the Player of the Game with 19 points (no less!) during Shakey's V-league's opening day match between SMART and FEU yesterday afternoon at the San Juan Arena.

This feat should shut all her critics up who said that Maru is waaaay past her prime.

Too bad Maru has chosen to leave UST's indoor volleyball team on her final year of UAAP eligibility. According to some fans, Maru would just play for UST's beach volleyball team.

Here's the article posted on SPIN.PH:

Shorthanded Smart still too much for Lady Tams in V-League opener
By Mei-Lin Lozada

August 18, 2013, 06:40 pm

A SHORTHANDED Smart-Maynilad squad still proved too much for Far Eastern University, 25-16, 25-5, 25-19, in the 10th Open Conference of the Shakey's V-League at The Arena in San Juan on Sunday.

As the rain poured outside the venue, Maruja Banaticla waxed hot inside the court and came up with 19 points to lead the eight-woman team of Roger Gorayeb to an opening-day victory.

"We may be short in number but we are not short in experience, knowledge and maturity," said the veteran mentor, who missed ace spiker Alyssa Valdez and several other players.

Sue Roces and Gretchel Soltones both chipped in nine points apiece, while Charo Soriano and Mica Guliman added five markers each and setters Jem Ferrer and team captain Rubie de Leon had two for Smart-Maynilad. Melissa Gohing, the lone libero, completed the lineup.

Smart-Maynilad dominated the second set, putting up a comfortable 9-1 lead. Banaticla made up for two errors as her two hits sparked their 12-0 run that made it 21-3.

FEU took an early 6-5 lead in the third but Banaticla, Soltones and Soriano came up with a 5-2 mini run to finally seal the win.
Mary Palma had 13 points for the Lady Tamaraws, who fielded 12 of its 14 players. 

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