NOT that there was a pressing need for it, but National University added another touch of gold to its title-winning squad with Creamline head coach Sherwin Meneses now at the helm.
READ: NU opens Sherwin Meneses era with victory over Iranian club
Seven times a champion in the PVL, topped by an unprecedented Grand Slam, Meneses took the reins of an intact Lady Bulldogs side led by two-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen and reigning Season 86 Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon.
It might be too early to call for now with months of preseason preparations still to come, but on paper, a champion coach in a champion team sounds just about right.
Bigger, sharper bite
Belen and Solomon will play another year as Lady Bulldogs in a bid to defend their UAAP crown and win their third in the last four seasons.
This time around, however, they’ll be carrying international pedigree to the UAAP stage after suiting up for Alas Pilipinas alongside some of the country’s finest pro league stars and fellow college standouts.
Come their forthcoming title-retention pursuits in the Shakey’s Super League and the UAAP, best believe having NU’s one-two punch onboard, and better than they ever were, will further solidify their status as the team to beat in college volleyball now and for the future.
“Very important sila sa’min, of course. Hindi lang naman si Sheena (Toring), si Erin (Pangilinan), si Aly, and si Bella, but also our team is very much intact. Si Pearl Denura lang ‘yung nag-graduate for the team,” said NU team manager and former Lady Bulldog Gelina Luceño.
“But it’s really important kasi the kids, the younger girls have an ate to look up to. They have somebody who’s gonna guide them with a lot of experience, a lot of confidence, and nandu’n ‘yung tiwala. We know that they could lead the team to greater heights na nandyan pa rin sila.”
The fuel to NU’s winning fire
Meneses' winning system with Creamline felt all too familiar for NU in their first stint together in the ongoing 2024 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship.
But it’ll still take time for the Lady Bulldogs to gain a firm grasp of Meneses’ style of leadership after playing the last couple of years with champion mentors Norman Miguel and Karl Dimaculangan.
“The team is just really adjusting kasi based on the system, parang hindi naman nagkakalayo masyado. The team is just really grasping, nagje-jell pa lang din with their coach kasi iba pa rin ‘yung feeling na you’ve been with a coach for a long time,”
“But ‘yung team itself naman, the girls, they’ve already been together for a long time na rin.”
In what could be Belen and Solomon’s final hurrah with NU, to have Meneses steer the ship come Season 87 carries the potential of unleashing the Lady Bulldogs’ sharpest form yet.
Simply put, it was more than just a welcome addition for the Jhocson side.
“We’re really thankful na tinanggap ni coach Sherwin and went into the NU family. Iba rin ‘yung level of experience na dala niya since he has been handling a champion team in the PVL,” said Luceño.
“‘Yung mga experiences niya and the knowledge there, we could really use it for our leagues and sa improvement pa ng players namin.
“And ‘yung preparations namin don’t stop sa court lang. We really try our best na kahit sa labas, nandu’n na ‘yung mindset na preparing for each and every game, not just for this tournament but for future tournaments.”
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