AFTER starting UAAP Season 88 with three straight wins thanks to a healthy mix of veteran presence from the likes of Vange Alinsug and the thunderous entrance of their rookie Sam Cantada, the NU Lady Bulldogs were hit by reality.
Looking like their old, champion selves even with the departure of cornerstones Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, as well as the changing of the guard from head coach Sherwin Meneses to Regine Diego, these young Lady Bulldogs were reminded of just how fragile things can be following a shocking loss to the University of the Philippines, and the injury to their super rookie Sam Cantada.
READ: NU vents ire on UE to return to winning ways
While admitting to being shaken by the recent developments, the Lady Bulldogs quickly dusted off with a sweep of University of the East as Diego rallied her squad to return to return to winning ways.
“Siyempre, na-prepare naman yung team na magiging ready all the time,” Diego told SPIN.ph after their win over the Lady Warriors. “Kasi, as we can see, hindi na malalayo yung skills ng mga bata.”
“We're just happy that everyone can step up and be ready. Pero, yeah, na-shook din kami. Naging worried kami. But, then again, we just have to move forward.”
With such a drastic change from the coaching staff to the players, it would be easy to show skepticism if NU could replicate even half of its dominance from prior seasons.
But with a 4-1 record, signs are pointing to the defending champions retaining contender status this season.
And if fans needed a bit of time to warm up to the idea, so did Diego and company, who bared that they are still undergoing a ‘getting to know each other’ period.
“I just always remind myself na this is still a new team. And these are young children. Hindi pa sila as buo as the last NU. So, I just have to be patient with them. And they just have to be patient with themselves,” she said.
“Siyempre, happy kami na we are still there. Kahit na may mga events na hindi namin inasahan. But, you know, we just keep on grinding, working our asses off even if medyo minsan may mga lapses talaga.”
Relearning what once came easily.
While Diego gave grace to her Lady Bulldogs that are adjusting not just to the new system, the former UAAP champion libero also allowed leniency to herself.
“Coaching is ano naman, it still depends on who you're coaching with,” she explained. “Kasi, what works for one team sometimes doesn't work for another.
As the returning shotcaller detailed, the team is still figuring out its identity – not so with the skills, as these players are as talented as they can be, but with their maturity.
But even though the team has yet to find its identity, what they did find quickly is that they have the tools to dominate.
And as early as now, they already have.
“Feeling ko up until now, ganun pa rin siya. We're just still figuring out who we are, what we can do, how I can help them. Because it's a different team, and some players need a different approach. So, adjustment pa rin naman siya.”
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