REGINE Diego knew from Day One the job would not come easy.
Taking over National University at the start of Season 88 meant chasing a three-peat, handling a powerhouse program and doing it as one of just two female head coaches in the league alongside Far Eastern University's Tina Salak.
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The road proved as tough as expected as a few shock losses along the way put her decisions under the microscope amid doubts from the NU faithful.
But when it mattered most, Diego delivered, steering the Lady Bulldogs back to the finals for a fifth straight season.
Looking back, she admitted the challenge went beyond results.
“My journey to being here is not as easy as other coaches, as far as I know. It’s harder because I am a woman, also,” Diego said.
“Sometimes I feel like, this is just for me ah, sometimes I feel like we are not ready for a woman coach here in the country.
“But then, now I feel na with the right type of support from the players, from our managers, from the NU community, I think it’s possible for me, for all of us women, na we can represent us in the higher stages like here in the finals.”
Now, Diego is set to make history as just the second woman to coach in a UAAP women’s volleyball finals after Adamson's Dulce Pante in Seasons 68 and 70 - with a hot at becoming the first to win it all if NU completes the job.
Her father figure
Standing in her way is a familiar figure: Ramil de Jesus, who also dealt Pante one of her finals losses in Season 68.
The same coach who once guided Diego as a Lady Spiker now becomes the final hurdle, turning the championship into a full-circle moment.
“It’s always about discipline with Coach Ramil. Hopefully, ma-outdiscipline ko siya and get to be at par with him, not just with my players but in coaching. Hopefully, I get there because he’s always going to be my inspiration in where I am now,” Diego said.
“I am grateful to be one of his players before and I know it’s going to be very hard kasi siyempre, wala namang madaling finals eh.”
Whatever the outcome, Diego knows this stage is built on years of growth, from player to protégé to now a coach on the cusp of history.
The cherry on top? She hopes to make his mentor proud.
“I’m happy and grateful and thankful sa naging journey ko, with all the teams na nahawakan ko before, it made me stronger. This one is also challenging me and making me grow everyday,” she said.
“Ipapakita namin sa kanya ngayon na kaya namin and mapakita ko sa kanya ‘yung lahat ng natutunan ko sa buong life ko. Siya kasi ‘yung pinaka-unang nagsabi sa’kin na pwede akong mag-coach. Now I’m here, and hopefully proud siya sa’kin.”
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