Regine Diego's first foray in UAAP volleyball as a head coach is a big task: continue the winning tradition of two-time defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs for Season 88.
For her first foray into UAAP volleyball as a head coach, Regine Diego is inheriting a tremendously successful NU Lady Bulldogs team that's entering Season 88 as back-to-back champions.
With expectations still high amid the exit of superstars Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, Diego admits to feeling jitters as her new team goes for a rare three-peat.
“Hindi naman siya ganoon kabago sa akin since I have coached the NU women’s team before [as assistant], so it’s almost the same. The difference lang is that there’s a lot of pressure, because these girls want it more, and I see the fire inside them that this will going to be a tough year,” said Diego.
“But this will pave the way for the future, so we want to do our best to make it look better for NU,” she added.
Diego will still have a loaded arsenal at her stead, led by UAAP Season 87 co-Finals MVPs Vange Alinsug and Shaira Jardio.
More than just the veteran duo, Diego is putting all her seniors to a high standard — including 5th year setter Lams Lamina.
“All the seniors naman not just Vange and Shaira have a crucial role. Especially the seniors, they have to lead not just step up and all of them, all of those who are there last year and the championship years… They need the help of everyone,” she said.
Championship or bust
While Diego is the one taking the NU program into a new era, she isn’t taking her responsibility lightly.
Though operating on a fairly new system, Diego aims for excellence with the Lady Bulldogs in UAAP Season 88.
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“Well that’s everybody’s goal… Championship na sunud-sunod, championship na three-peat. That’s our goal every year, all we can do is play our best and it’s a privilege that we are here, and will play against each other, and we are gonna do our best,” said Diego.
“We will improve volleyball in the Philippines.”
Diego and the rest of the NU Lady Bulldogs measure themselves against the rest of the field starting on Sunday, February 15, first facing off against UST at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
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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.