FIVE years since stepping down from his post as National University’s women’s volleyball head coach back in UAAP Season 82, Norman Miguel retook the reins to replace Season 84 champion coach Karl Dimaculangan and settle unfinished business of his own from a pandemic-disrupted campaign.
Fast forward to the tail-end of Season 86, Miguel is now just two wins away from championship glory — a first for him as head coach in the seniors’ division.
However, a prospective title romp this year wouldn’t be his first in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
READ: Vengeful NU Lady Bulldogs rip FEU, reach UAAP Finals vs UST
Little do many know that Miguel was part of veteran mentor Shaq delos Santos’ coaching staff when University of Sto. Tomas, NU’s Season 86 title foe, last won the UAAP crown back in Season 72 (2010). Through his time in UST, Miguel shared coaching duties with the likes of esteemed champion mentors August Sta. Maria and Vilet Ponce de Leon.
Delos Santos, who has found his way back to España as a deputy coach, will share the sidelines with Miguel as their respective squads fight for the championship 14 years later.
Miguel expressed his gratitude for the title-winning stint with a star-studded UST side led by the likes of top-caliber aces Rhea Dimaculangan, Aiza Maizo, Ge Tabaquero and Dindin Santiago among many others to seize what would then be championship No. 16 for the España-based squad.
All these years later, the NU mentor shared how his time with the Tigresses molded him to be the title-contending coach that he has become. But come championship weekend, the gloves will be off for Miguel & Co. in a bid to win their fourth UAAP title - and second in the last three years.
“Up to this day, ‘yung gratitude ko nandu'n pa rin naman na part ng experience ko sa UST ‘yung mentorship ni Coach August (Sta. Maria) at nu’ng nakasama ko si Coach Shaq (delos Santos),” said Miguel.
“Until now, I still carry (what I learned from them) with me sa coaching style ko. Sobra akong grateful na naging part ako nu’n, pero siyempre ngayon, nandito ako sa kalaban. I have to work for my team."
How NU changed from within
Miguel’s second coming at NU wasn’t all easy-going from the get-go after a shock season-opening sweep defeat to UST and a first-round-ending loss to defending champion La Salle.
The Lady Bulldogs upped the ante come Round Two with a seven-game sweep en route to the top seed and the Finals despite a Final Four stunner dealt by Far Eastern University in their series opener.
With the need to bring his wards back on track whenever they’d lost their footing midway through the season, Miguel pointed out how the team has evolved under his watch over the span of the last three months since their redemption tour began.
“Sobrang marami ‘yung nagbago dito (sa NU). Unang-una, ‘yung personality ng mga players namin. Alam namin na given na ‘yung may character sila, pero ‘yung nangyari na ‘yun (sa Game One versus FEU, kino-consider kasi namin na ‘kinalabit tayo ah, baka naging complacent tayo’ so kailangan talagang pag-trabahuan ‘yun. Kung ‘di natin gagawan ng paraan yan, wala uuwi na tayo bukas, bakasyon na tayo,” Miguel said.
“Parang may nagsabi din na FEU has a bigger heart to get the game today. Sabi ko naman, let's have the biggest heart para mas makuha natin. Pagtrabahuan talaga natin and offer it to your family, your teammates, the NU community, at ‘yun ‘yung motivation namin sa game na ‘to."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
