For the first time in his head coaching career, Sherwin Meneses faced off against his alma mater: Adamson University.
Before becoming a championship-winning coach with the Creamline Cool Smashers, Sherwin Meneses previously coached his alma mater, Adamson University, in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
Meneses handled the Adamson Lady Falcons from 2012 to 2016, where he handled the likes of Amanda Villanueva, Bang Pineda, and even a rookie Jema Galanza prior to his departure from San Marcelino.
Now the head coach of the NU Lady Bulldogs, Meneses faced the Lady Falcons on Wednesday, March 12, a team now led by super rookie Shaina Nitura amid their rebuild. Nitura is Adamson’s homegrown star, whose 119 points (23.8 points per game) only trails Angge Poyos in terms of scoring for Season 87.
While facing one’s alma mater is always special, Meneses made sure to highlight the Falcons’ bright future, having secured key cogs to build around despite the UAAP’s intense recruitment wars.
“Masaya ako sa kanila kasi may mga talagang blue chips na dumarating na players sa Adamson, kasi number one na pinakamahirap talaga is mag-recruit, so hopefully ‘yung mga young players nila is mag-improve pa lalo,” Meneses said after NU’s 25-21, 25-23, 25-18 win over the Lady Falcons at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Also part of Adamson’s core is foreign student athlete Frances Mordi, who has acted as a second scoring option behind the Nitura with 71 points (14.5 points per game) as of writing. Fhei Sagaysay, Nitura’s high school teammate, is Season 87’s fourth-best setter behind Tin Ubaldo, Cassie Carballo, and Lams Lamina.
Middle blocker MG Del Moral might also rejoin juniors’ teammates Nitura and Sagaysay by UAAP Season 88, further adding to the Falcons’ bright young core.
“Actually medyo matagal na kasi ‘yung time na na-handle ko ‘yung Adamson, pero syempre sa alma mater talaga, masaya din naman ako kasi ‘yung alma mater mo kalaban mo. Mayroong time na medyo mapapaisip ka lang, pero ganon talaga,” Meneses, a former Adamson men’s setter, reflected.
“‘Yung players talagang highly recruited ngayon, so hopefully maging successful ‘yung batch nila [Nitura] and maging maganda ‘yung takbo ng career nila.”
Meneses also praised Adamson head coach JP Yude, who was a Creamline deputy during the 2021 PVL Open Conference in Bacarra, Iloilo. Yude was a champion coach for Adamson in the juniors’ ranks and is now in the midst of helping the women’s program return to Final Four contention.
“Kaibigan namin si JP and lagi namin nakakasama before, talagang magtiyaga lang siya sa Adamson. And syempre, mag-aral din talaga kung ano ‘yung career niyang pinasok kasi matiyaga talaga si JP and mabait, so hopefully maging successful siya sa pagko-coach sa Adamson,” Meneses said.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.