After playing and graduating from Far Eastern University, George Pascua became its men’s volleyball team’s head coach thereafter.
He eventually led the Tamaraws to four titles, the last one of which came in 2012 against the University of the Philippines.
Five years after, Pascua took the reigns of its women’s squad after the departure of Shaq Delos Santos, and from there it was all the women’s game for the former national team member.
He had success in different leagues with different women’s clubs until he succeeded the seasoned coach Roger Gorayeb in coaching the PLDT High-Speed Hitters in the Premier Volleyball League.
Nonetheless, the veteran mentor heeded the call of the men’s game back when he accepted the post as the new head coach of Adamson University.
And on Sunday, Pascua is back in his element, consequently, in the restart of the V-League, where he once plied his trade as a then-budding coach.
For the former Tamaraw himself, it was not much of an adjustment heading back to guiding men. “Sa men’s team? Ganon pa rin naman,” he said.
“Ang pinagkaiba lang yung ano siguro, is yung approach sa training. Yung approach kasi, yung mga girls kailangan medyo may konting lambing, yung mga boys kailangan ng konting pasindak. Magkaiba ng approach talaga,” he said.
“Pero training-wise, pare-pareho lang, and system-wise, pare-pareho rin.”
And he is off to a good start back as the Soaring Falcons took care of College of Saint Benilde in four thrilling sets, despite some calls that did not go their way in the match.
However, as a long-time bench tactician who has been there and done that, he just reminded his wards to get back into the game. He said, “Basta ang sabi ko, basta judgment call, di na natin pwedeng i-contest yon. Ang goal naman natin, huwag tayong ma-distract sa anumang bagay.
“Kailangan kung ano man ang tawag ng referee, ang importante yun mindset natin, pag-aralan at talunin yung kalaban. Kung kailangan mong manalo, mag-iisip ka.”
And with such composure shown in its first outing, coach Pascua knew he had something to build on.
