University of the Philippines volleyball program director Oliver Almadro would not promise an instant improvement in the win-loss standings for the upcoming UAAP Season 86.
However, he vowed to initiate a culture change in Diliman.
Almadro, who will also be coaching the women’s volleyball team, has the task of turning around two squads that struggled last year.
Both the men’s and women’s teams lagged in the standings in Season 85, finishing with an identical 1-13 record.
“It’s a challenge kasi we all know naman for the past years kung anong standing ng UP, both men and women. And I am tasked to start a new program,” said Almadro, who had his share of success in the men’s and women’s programs of Ateneo de Manila University before.
“Sabi ko naman sa kanila, hindi instant ang pag-change. I cannot change the skills right away.
“The number of wins I cannot change right away, but they accepted that slowly. Para ma-change yung story nila yearly, we have to slowly change the culture and their daily habits,” he continued on Monday during the tournament press conference held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena lobby.
To spark the resurgence of both UP squads, the decorated tactician has asked the school community to come support the volleyball teams.
The Fighting Maroons’ men’s basketball team has enjoyed the undying support of the UP crowd in the past five seasons when they started winning.
Almadro has also tapped former UP players to his staff to aid in the culture change he’s trying to begin this season. He assigned Vip Isada to handle the men’s team while also getting help from Nicole Tiamzon, Jarod Hubalde, and Carlo Cabitingan.
“Yung UP community, sumusupport sa UP volleyball, pinapatawag namin ulit to bring back the fighting culture of UP, the winning culture of UP na meron dati – sila Nicole, sila Jarod, sila Coach Vip… So yun yung mga tinap natin to help me,” said Almadro.
“Ang lumalabas, ako lang yung bago dito. Sila, dati na sila, so we really need the help of the volleyball supporters of UP.”
With the tournament commencing this weekend, Almadro tempered expectations but also emphasized that they need to start now if they want a change in the program.
His head coaching career with the Ateneo men’s team also followed a similar path. The team was struggling before he took over and rejigged the program, leading them to a ‘three-peat’ in Seasons 77 to 79.
“I tempered the expectations. Slowly but surely with the help of Strong Group Athletics that really supports us, sabi ko we will just put the ‘Laban UP’ mantra,” said the four-time UAAP champion coach.
“We know naman UP yung word nila ‘matatapang, matatalino’ sabi ko yun lang panghahawakan natin, ‘Laban UP’ every single day, every single game no matter what the result is. Sabi ko nga the result is not always important, important is how will they perform every day in practice,” added Almadro.
“Yun lang sabi ko sa kanila tiyagain lang natin, we may not be winners yet this year but hopefully the culture that we want to change soon sana bumalik yung Laban UP culture, yung culture na talagang ipaglalaban ang UP at the very end.”
