University of the Philippines will have a familiar yet temporary face calling the shots when it closes its UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament campaign against the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday.
Aleksi Lahteenmaki will serve as acting head coach for the Fighting Maroons, stepping in while head tactician Fabio Menta takes a short leave to focus on his health and overall well-being.
The UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development, together with major backer Strong Group Athletics, has granted Menta the space to recover.
However, the program clarified that he remains the team’s official head coach and may return whenever he is ready.
For now, UP will lean on the 22-year-old Finnish mentor, a former player-turned-coach who recently helped guide the Letran Lady Knights to their first NCAA women’s volleyball crown in 27 years.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
University of the Philippines OASD director Bo Perasol expressed full support for the current setup while wishing Menta a swift recovery.
“We hope coach Fabio feels better sooner than later, so for our last game this season, let’s just all support coach Aleksi and the rest of our girls in trying to get us a season-ending win,” Perasol said.
Lahteenmaki has been working under Menta’s program since transitioning into coaching after his stint with Finland’s U-18 national team. He now takes charge of UP’s final assignment of the season.
He will be tasked with steering the Maroons and giving departing seniors Nina Ytang, Irah Jaboneta, and Joan Monares a fitting send-off in their final collegiate match against University of Santo Tomas.
UP aims to end its UAAP Season 88 campaign on a positive note under Lahteenmaki’s guidance before turning its attention to the program’s future direction.
