AT just 19 years old, incoming University of the Philippines winger Casiey Dongallo is about to reach a milestone that’s as rare as can be for anyone her age.
And not even Dongallo herself saw it coming this early into her sporting career.
The Cebuana spiker will call the shots for her high school alma mater California Academy (CAL) as its newest head coach in the 2025 Shakey's Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) starting May 28.
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In just about seven years since CAL began its grassroots volleyball program with Dongallo as one of its pioneers, it will be quite an extraordinary full circle moment, as her longtime coach Obet Vital hands her the reins of the program that discovered and began developing her.
“It's a big milestone for me kasi at the age of 19, I'm coaching na sa high school,” said Dongallo, who will face off with De La Salle Zobel, Arellano, King’s Montessori School, and Corpus Christi School in CAL's Division 1 pool.
READ: Life without Nitura awaits SGVIL defending champion Adamson
“I’m thankful din kay Doc and Ms. Steph [Cholico] na binigyan nila ako ng chance na para sa growth ko naman after playing sa high school. Ngayon, magko-coach na ako sa school kung saan ako nanggaling and it's time to give back naman.”
Dongallo's job interview
One might wonder how a second-year student-athlete set to debut for her new school next year suddenly landed a head coaching spot for a high school team.
But it isn’t too tough to put two and two together.
Vital and Dongallo - along with the likes of Jelai Gajero and Kizzie Madriaga, among others - moved from CAL to University of the East for UAAP Season 86 before their eventual move to State U.
As her longtime mentor, Vital had a vision for his brightest young star to make the most of her residency year in Diliman through endeavors that will sharpen her sporting craft in more ways than one.
“Actually, pinilit ako,” Dongallo said in jest.
The real reason? “Biglaan po kasi yung Shakey’s [GVIL] tapos parang gusto kasi ni Doc na mag-rest muna from coaching sa high school."
“In-invite na po sila ng Shakey’s na maglaro. At that time, wala pa po silang team. Parang bago-bago pa lang po talaga ‘yung players. Tapos, biglang sabi niya na ‘Ikaw na lang yung mag-coach’ kasi gusto niya na lang po magpahinga.
At first, however, the oneetime Lady Warriors super rookie was hesitant to take on the challenge.
What ultimately made her accept the role was the support she’s set to receive from fellow ‘CAL babies’ turned Fighting Maroons in Gajero and Madriaga, who’ll be helping Dongallo man their alma mater’s ship as assistant coaches.
Coach Casiey reporting for duty
Most definitely, having the same coach and teammates for nearly the entirety of her young career has its perks for Dongallo.
For one, there’s a comforting sense of continuity in terms of the philosophy instilled upon her from high school to college.
Vital’s ‘coach-like mentality’ which he preaches to his ‘CAL babies’ to act and play like leaders will be of the essence for Dongallo in her head coaching stint.
Leadership is one important tenet of CAL’s philosophy. The others? Dedication, teamwork and humility.
“Hindi ko naman po [ini-impose] na parang, ‘Ay, mas power ako sa inyo kasi coach niyo ako, sundin niyo ako,’” Dongallo said.
“Every day, binibigyan ko sila ng motivation na kapag malapit na yung laro niyo, gawin niyo lang kung ano yung kailangan niyong gawin at tapangan lang talaga kasi nagsisimula ‘yan sa isip at sa attitude."
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