LONGTIME La Salle assistant Benson Bocboc will take over as head coach of the University of the Philippines women's volleyball team.
Former lead shot-caller Oliver Almadro isn't going elsewhere, however, as he'll keep his post as overall director of the Fighting Maroons' volleyball program.
The coaching shakeup adds even more championship experience for a rebuilding State U side that finished dead last in a one-win campaign in UAAP Season 86.
"Nagkaroon tayo ng opportunity to bring together two champion coaches, and we just took advantage of it," said UP Office for Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol, referring to business tycoon Frank Lao of main backer Strong Group Athletics.
"With coach Boc on the bench, coach O overseeing lahat-lahat, and siyempre, the continued support from boss Frank, we're looking forward to the bright future ng UP volleyball."
For nearly a decade, Bocboc was the right-hand man of veteran champion coach Ramil de Jesus for La Salle and now-defunct F2 Logistics when it came to analyzing match data, pertinent statistics, and their opposition's in-game playing patterns.
He previously took on interim head coaching duties for the Cargo Movers in lieu of de Jesus in their first two conferences in the second pro season of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) back in 2022.
UP's bright future
Another new challenge awaits the newly-minted Farm Fresh assistant mentor, as he'll aim to unleash the best there could be for a retooled UP side featuring veteran aces Nina Ytang, Nica Celis, and Irah Jaboneta alongside up-and-coming rookies Kianne Olango, Yesha Noceja, and Jothea Mae Ramos.
READ: UP lands Visayan volleyball aces Jothea Ramos, Joanneesse Perez
Erasing the Fighting Maroons' cellar-dweller tag will be Bocboc's first order of duty come Season 87 early next year, as they seek to break into the Final Four for the first time since Season 79 back in 2017 when now-PVL stars Tots Carlos and Isa Molde led the maroon-and-green attack.
Over in the men's side, UP will also welcome a new head coach in Carlo Cabatingan who'll take the coaching reins from veteran tactician Vip Isada.
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