UAAP women’s volleyball has always been a ruthless proving ground — one that spares no team and no coach, where every flaw is magnified under the brightest lights.
For National University’s Regine Diego, that reality came into full view in her first season at the helm, as the Lady Bulldogs fell short of a championship repeat after being dethroned by an unbeaten De La Salle University in the UAAP Season 88 Finals.
The loss left a bitter sting for the first-year head coach, but Diego is choosing to turn inward. She has decided to treat a setback-filled campaign as a necessary step in her growth as both mentor and leader.
“It was not easy; there were a lot of setbacks with this team. The transition was not as smooth as I wanted it to be, but this is the UAAP, and this is not some random competition. This is where you will know who you are, and my character also was tested — not only the player’s character,” Diego told reporters after NU’s straight-sets loss to the Lady Spikers in Game 2 of the Finals on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“Hopefully, this made me grow as a coach and as a person. Hopefully, I can learn a lot of things from this and get better the next time.”
Steering a program in transition proved to be no easy task for Diego, who had to guide a Lady Bulldogs squad adjusting to the departure of its “Golden Generation” in Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Erin Pangilinan, and Sheena Toring.
Her decisions also came under scrutiny early in the season, particularly her choice to lean on backup setter Abe Pono over two-time UAAP Best Setter Lams Lamina during stretches of the first round.
Still, Diego is taking the experience in stride. She views NU’s run to another top-two finish as part of the learning curve in her development as a head coach.
“Sa start talaga, we were not expecting a lot, but we have to do our best hindi ba? The fact that we are here can only tell us that we can still do it, and we are still there. For sure, we will come back hungrier next year,” Diego shared.
“Siyempre, being still at the top two, we are hopeful to get back to the championship next year.”
Looking ahead, NU is expected to return to its familiar formula of replenishing its roster with talent from its dominant high school program at NU-Nazareth School, as it aims to bounce back stronger.
With only Lams Lamina moving on, while Vange Alinsug, Shaira Jardio, and Chammy Maaya retain one final year of eligibility, the Lady Bulldogs’ core remains largely intact. Season 88 Rookie of the Year Sam Cantada, Celine Marsh, Harlyn Serneche, Abe Pono, and IC Cepada are among those expected to lead the charge moving forward.
“We have reinforcements naman coming from our high school program. Yon naman talaga ang tradition with NU, and hopefully, we get to be stronger pa next year,” she said.
“And just like all of the teams, we are going to prepare better.”
