FOR the fourth straight season, National U lived through a revolving door of shot-callers despite remaining one of the UAAP’s most consistent contenders.
From Karl Dimaculangan to Norman Miguel, then from Sherwin Meneses to Regine Diego, the Lady Bulldogs have constantly had to adjust to a new voice on the sidelines.
Now, after steering the gold-and-blue back to the finals in her first season at the helm, Diego finds herself in the same boat: uncertain of what comes next.
While hopeful of staying with the program, the first-year collegiate tactician shared that there is yet to be assurance regarding her future at Jhocson.
Still, Diego chose to focus on gratitude for the opportunity NU gave her, while also accepting whatever decision awaits in the coming days and weeks.
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The silver medal finish may not have been the ending they envisioned, but the mentor still believed their campaign nonetheless proved the Lady Bulldogs remain among the league’s top teams.
“We were not expecting a lot, but then siyempre, we will do our best,” she said.
“So the fact that we are here can only tell us that we can still do it. We’re still here and for sure, we will come back stronger next year.”
Lessons learned, too, for rookie coach
Taking over a winning program - especially a dynastic one like this - was never going to be easy, yet Diego managed to keep National U within reach of another title despite not having all of Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Erin Pangilinan, and Sheena Toring.
“Being still in the Top 2, we’re very lucky to get back to the championship (round),” she said. “Hopefully, this made me grow as a coach and as a person.”
In a program that constantly changed voices on the bench, Diego became the latest coach tasked to make sure the Lady Bulldogs kept making noise.
And at the end of the day, despite all the challenges and criticisms, she delivered a finals appearance, while also keeping NU well within the league’s elite.
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