PEOPLE are probably wondering how one person can be shot-caller of two teams when just one coaching job is already too much for others to handle.
But such is the reality in Philippine volleyball where top coaches are at such a premium that some teams have no issues about hiring somebody who is already mentoring another team.
The best example of this is Sherwin Meneses, who is coach of Creamline in the Premiere Volleyball League and National University in the UAAP.
Even more, both teams are champions - Creamline is the winningest squad in the PVL with seven titles, including a grand slam, while NU is the defending women's volleyball champion in the UAAP.
With such a sterling record, it is no wonder that if he perhaps wanted to, Meneses could coach three or four teams.
But anyway, we ask: How does Meneses handle the two jobs and be successful at both?
READ: What made it easy for Sherwin Meneses to accept NU Lady Bulldogs job
According to him, it is not rocket science. It simply is a matter of time management, knowing how to divide your day which he describes as "multiple three-hour shifts."
In volleyball, a training session typically runs for about three hours. For him, it’ll just be a matter of dedicating three hours in the morning, then another three in the afternoon - and possibly one in the evening, if one of the teams missed its day session.
Does he teach the same playbook for both teams? No, he said. One team is professional, the other, amateur.
“Magkaiba naman sila. ‘Yung isang sistema, kapag inulit-ulit, nakakabisado," he said, talking about the Cool Smashers. "Yung NU kasi, siyempre mas bata eh. ‘Yung Creamline, medyo senior na talaga, madali lang hawakan talaga.”
“’Yung system, pinipilit syempre kung ano ‘yung nagwo-work. Hopefully, makuha pa namin ‘yun sa parehong (Creamline at NU). Pero ‘yung NU naman, meron sila yung sariling galing, dinadagdagan lang namin."
Meneses' first-year high
Year one at the helm of the Lady Bulldogs has been so far smooth-sailing for Meneses, with a couple of preseason championships and training camps already under his belt.
As UAAP action draws near, the champion coach believes his honeymoon stage with the reigning women’s volleyball champions is already over, meaning tougher and more intense training sessions are ahead.
Good thing then that two-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen is helping Meneses communicate with the players, as they begin heavy training for their title defense.
“Talagang malaking tulong siya kasi hindi naman basta-basta nga malalaman yung mga ugali ng players, pero si Bella talagang nakikipag-communicate sa’min, sa mga coaches,” Meneses said.
Accepting the NU job alongside the Creamline work did not involve any question about propriety on the part of Meneses. He quickly said yes when offered the job, as it was like a homecoming for him since many of his family members had ties with NU.
As he put it, “‘Yung family ko kasi nasa NU, ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-maganda (sa pagbalik ko sa UAAP). At alam niyo naman ‘yung UAAP, talagang sobrang gandang labanan […] kaya excited ako na makabalik sa UAAP."
“Let's see na lang kung maging maganda ‘yung (campaign) ng NU. Defending champion, lahat gustong talunin (kami). ’Yung pressure laging nandyan, pero lalabanan ‘yung pressure. May tiwala naman ako sa team ng NU na talagang senior team na sila.”
Pressure? That seems to be what drives Meneses - and it doesn't matter whether he's handling a pro team like Creamline or an amateur squad like NU.
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.
