Raiza Palmera-Dy talks life balance as her Discovery Perlas-Rizal team prepares for the WMPBL Finals, and her FEU Lady Tamaraws chase a Final Four slot in UAAP Season 88.
If there were MVP awards given for time management and balance, FEU head coach and legend Raiza Palmera-Dy would probably be one of the frontrunners — if not the runaway winner — for one of them.
In the midst of helping the Lady Tamaraws stay at pace in the UAAP Season 88 Final Four race, Palmera-Dy is also getting ready for a historic moment herself as her Discovery Perlas-Rizal team is set for the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League Finals.
As if being a player and coach isn’t hard enough, add mother and entrepreneur to Palmera-Dy’s growing list of responsibilities.
But as she’s proven all her life, there isn’t a challenge that Palmera-Dy isn’t keen on taking.
Just in her second year as a head coach, Palmera-Dy is optimistic that she and the Lady Tamaraws can turn their season around, especially after showing promise in the offseason.
“Sabi ko, let's just keep the momentum going. Sabi ko, rewrite natin yung momentum na ito because ang ganda din ang pinakita namin noong summer,” Palmera-Dy told One Sports prior to the start of UAAP Season 88.
Deflecting credit
However, basketball and life can still be a lot to take on together, especially when things become a little heavy on the schedule.
Thankfully for Palema-Dy, she has all the support system that she needs with her family. She also has teammates and fellow coaches to lean on.
“Actually, hindi ko rin alam [paano ko nagagawa ito],” she quipped with a laugh.
“I’m a mother, coach, [a] playing-coach as well sa WMPBL, and also handling a business. Siguro, without the support of my family, hindi ko talaga magagawa lahat ng mga ‘to. So luckily, they’re very supportive sa kung ano man yung ginagawa ko,” she added.
Palmera-Dy is a mother of three and has continued to be an active presence in her family despite her busy schedule.
Currently, Palmera-Dy will try to help FEU breakout of the midfield in the women’s basketball tournament in UAAP Season 88 with their 4-6 record. She and the rest of Discovery will also be vying for the first-ever regular season title in the WMPBL.
The Lady Tams return to action with a chip on their shoulder when they face defending champions NU on Wednesday, November 12, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Meanwhile, the WMPBL Finals will start at a later date after their scheduled opener on November 9 was rescheduled due to Super Typhoon Uwan.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.