SHERWIN Meneses and Dante Alinsunurin aren’t just two of Philippine volleyball’s most successful college and pro league coaches today.
They go way back - not only as co-coaches, but also as teammates and close friends.
READ: How Sherwin Meneses juggles demanding Creamline, NU coaching jobs
In fact, 16-year National U mentor Alinsunurin even played a part in convincing Meneses to take over as Lady Bulldogs head coach concurrent to his PVL duties with 10-time champion Creamline.
While Meneses and Alinsunurin might be PVL title rivals as chief tacticians for Rebisco’s flagship teams Creamline and Choco Mucho, respectively, the respect and camaraderie never wavered between the longtime pals.
“Dati pa naming pinag-uusapan na gusto niyang kunin ‘yung NU and in-offer sa kanya,” Alinsunurin, the multi-time mentor of the Bulldogs, shared with SPIN.ph.
“Sabi ko, maganda ‘yan para sa'yo at sa career mo. Sa’kin kasi, lagi lang naman kaming nag-uusap kung ano ‘yung magiging (direksyon ng mga) career namin.
“Masaya ako na siya yung nakuhang head coach dahil teammate ko siya before, schoolmate ko.”
They were, in fact, teammates in the UAAP for the Adamson Soaring Falcons men's volleyball team back in 1998 — Meneses’ freshman year in college — and eventually played together for the Philippine men’s national volleyball team for a time.
From playing for flag and country, Alinsunurin and Meneses went on to coach the nationals, too.
The latter became Alinsunurin’s deputy coach — most notably in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on home soil where they struck a historic silver medal.
Since 2019 to 2022 when Meneses inherited the reins for the Cool Smashers en route to seven PVL titles and a Grand Slam, Alinsunurin couldn’t be prouder to see his good friend come out of his shell to one of the sport’s most formidable coaching figures today.
This, even if Meneses has won titles at the expense of Alinsunurin’s Choco Mucho.
“Grabe ‘yung sipag niya talaga. Every time na may nakikita siyang (ikagagaling) ng team, ina-adapt at tinuturo niya agad sa team,” Alinsunurin said of Meneses.
“Nu’ng naging assistant coach ko siya (sa national team), very vocal naman siya sa’kin na nagpapasalamat siya sa nabigay na sistema ko sa kanya.
“Pinagsama-sama niya lang lahat ng natutunan niya sa’kin, sa ibang coaches, kaya naging successful talaga siya.”
Coach Sherwin sets the standard
Meneses might still be on cloud nine from all the successes he’s had with Creamline and those he can still reach with defending UAAP champion National U, but he’s not one to forget what Alinsunurin has done for him to get to the top.
“Maganda naman (‘yung samahan namin) kasi siyempre, hanggang ngayon magkasama pa kami. Since college, national team, nandyan pa rin kami. Naging maganda sa’min,” Meneses told SPIN.ph.
“Lagi naman kaming nag-uusap about sa NU. Gina-guide din niya ko dito sa NU kung ano ‘yung mga lagi nilang ginagawa.”
Alinsunurin’s one advice for Meneses? “Continue lang niya yung ginagawa niya kasi alam ko na magiging successful din siya sa pagdating sa collegiate.”
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