Growth is never linear in sports. But sometimes, it takes a heavy toll when it feels like development has stalled — like you’re no longer moving forward.
University of the East’s collegiate volleyball programs have been facing that predicament since the UAAP’s post-pandemic era.
Both the men’s and women’s teams hit rock bottom in Season 87, losing all 14 games in their respective divisions.
On the women’s side, after Strong Group Athletics ended its support of the team, the school turned to Jumbo Dimaculangan, tapping him to return as head coach after previously holding the position in Seasons 84 and 85.
In those two seasons, UE finished with identical 1-13 records. With the team coming off a winless campaign in Season 87, Dimaculangan had to think twice before accepting what many would consider a thankless job.
“It’s really difficult. To be honest, it really took time for me to accept the role again. Hindi siya madali. I’ve been there, and I know na mahirap,” said Dimaculangan last Wednesday after UE’s 20-25, 14-25, 14-25 loss to FEU that dropped the Lady Warriors to 0-2 in the Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.
“The reason why I accepted it is because may natira akong players from before, and at the same time, very grateful for the trust of UE na ibigay ulit sa akin yung role. That keeps me motivated as a coach, and I saw new players again na may potential na sana mailabas lang kung ano meron sila.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Dimaculangan is leaning on seniors Angelica Reyes, Khy Cepada, and Van Bangayan to guide a squad composed of 10 rookies.
Even during Seasons 86 and 87, when the program was backed by SGA, UE struggled to climb out of the hole it had long been stuck in. The team compiled a combined 3-25 record over those two years.
On the men’s side, the situation has been strikingly similar.
Although Jerome Guhit has served as head tactician since Season 82, the Red Warriors’ best finish in recent years was a 5-9 record for sixth place in Season 85. The last two seasons offered little relief, as the team managed just one win in 28 games.
Dimaculangan has been assisting Guhit with the men’s team, while Guhit has also been helping out on the women’s side — a shared effort to lift UE from years of struggle.
Trying to pull the program from the depths of adversity, Dimaculangan admits the road is difficult. But as long as the passion remains, they will keep pushing forward.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Kami naman kasi ay coaching is all about passion. The reason why we’re staying in UE is we’re very passionate sa craft namin, despite the setbacks,” he said.
“Right now, maraming challenges for men’s and women’s teams. We’re still working hard. Sa men’s team kanina, we were positive with the result na ito, yung tao na meron kami, at nailalabas namin yung potential na meron sila. Same with the women’s din, we have to be consistent lang sa magaganda na ginagawa namin, especially yung composure,” he added.
Though still winless on the men’s side, the Red Warriors have made their opponents work for every point. They pushed the UP Fighting Maroons to five sets last weekend before falling in a tightly-contested, straight-sets match against FEU, 20-25, 23-25, 23-25.
There are, at the very least, encouraging signs.
For both programs, the challenge now is turning potential and flashes of progress into actual victories. Dimaculangan and Guhit remain steadfast in that mission.
And the UE community can take solace in the fact that the coaching duo has no plans of walking away while the fire still burns.
“Sabi ko nga, if the time will come na medyo nabawasan na yung commitment and yung passion, I think that’s the only time that we’ll stop coaching. Not only with UE, but with the work itself,” said Dimaculangan.
“Every day, we’re giving our 100-percent, and siguro our players would know and alam naman nila how committed we are in pushing them and working really hard every single day.
“It’s still a work in progress, but we know that results will come.”
