This batch of NU Lady Bulldogs has established a strong culture of winning within Jhocson.
Success has followed the NU Lady Bulldogs throughout their time competing in the UAAP Volleyball Tournaments.
After stamping their class in the high-school ranks, National U’s title-winning core extended their dominance in the seniors’ division by winning three Women’s Volleyball titles within a four-year span.
While they retained the same core, a notable aspect of their championship-winning trail is the various coaches that have steered them into victory.
In high school, National U’s title-winning core started their journey under coach Raymund “Babes” Castillo, before being handled by Regine Diego in their final year as Nazareth School-NU Lady Bullpups.
It was in the seniors’ division when this group witnessed a coaching rigodon within four years.
In Season 84, the then-rookie-laden Lady Bulldogs snapped a 65-year title drought under Karl Dimaculangan, who was replaced by a returning Norman Miguel after the DLSU Lady Spikers foiled their back-to-back aspirations in Season 85.
Miguel led NU’s redemption tour in Season 86, before resigning in the offseason to pursue further career opportunities.
Replacing Miguel was Creamline tactician Sherwin Meneses, whose Grand Slam-winning philosophy helped the Lady Bulldogs get an elusive title repeat by Season 87.
So, how exactly did the Lady Bulldogs learn through these various coaching changes?
Shared vision
For captain Bella Belen, it boils down to National U learning from each system that they have played under, with each lesson actually easing their transition whenever a new coach comes in to handle their group.
“Every season, napupulido ‘yung galaw namin as a team, kasi ‘yung sistema ng napagdaanan naming coach is hindi naman ganon siya nagkakalayo. So parang each coach, parang napulido kami and mas napaganda pa ‘yung galaw namin. Lalo kay Coach Sherwin, nakita ko kung paano kami natulungan ng sistema niya,” Belen explained.
There is also the longstanding chemistry within the Lady Bulldogs, starting with Belen and the Golden Generation, who have been playing together for over a decade now.
“Talagang ‘yung chemistry naman po kasi ng team, hindi nawala. Magkakakilala naman na kami kahit sinong coach ang humawak sa amin, alam kong kaya namin lumaban, and at the same time, kaya naming i-adopt ‘yung magiging sistema po ng coach,”
Towering opposite Alyssa Solomon agreed, while pointing out the lack of individual egos within their group.
“Parang hindi per player ‘yung goal namin, parang as a team talaga ‘yung goal namin, na gusto namin ma-achieve. So I think ‘yun ‘yung nagiging madali doon, kasi nga nasa iisang goal kami, like nasa iisang gustong matuto, and gustong mag-improve.”
The foundations laid by Coach Babes
Middle blockers Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring, meanwhile, made sure to credit Castillo, who is credited as the architect of Nazareth School’s dynasty in the mid-2010s.
It was under Castillo’s watchful eye that the Golden Generation blossomed into the winners that they are today, along with now-PVL players such as Thea Gagate, Joyme Cagande, and Faith Nisperos among many others.
“Ang pinaka-credits talaga to all our coaches is si Coach Babes, kasi siya talaga kung nag-mold kung paano kami. Talagang ine-emphasize niya ‘yung character and attitude towards playing volleyball, kung paano ba dapat naming gawin. More on response rather than being reactive,” Pangilinan said of Castillo’s philosophy.
Toring added how “Coach Babes” taught them the value of loyalty, which led to their batch sticking together in the collegiate ranks.
“I think ‘yung bunga nito is ‘yung loyalty namin sa NU, na we decided to stay talaga. ‘Yun talaga ‘yung dahilan kung bakit nag-stay kami sa NU, na ituloy namin ‘yung championship namin from high school to college,” Toring, a one-time Best Middle Blocker, shared.
The two middle blockers also shared how staying with National U taught them to be humble, while being equally driven to achieve more for the school that has acted as their second home.
“Since we know that NU is not that big, na hindi siya grande na nasa top four universities, so that’s what made us [stay] humble and simple,” Pangilinan said. “But at the same time, we wanted to be hungry for more, and to achieve more. Kasi from scratch din eh, so ayun ‘yung parang lesson within NU.”
Concluded Toring, “May mantra nga kami kay Sir Hans [Sy] diba? ‘Yung ‘stay focused, stay humble, stay hungry. ’ So ‘yun lang ‘yung lagi namin na nire-remind sa sarili namin.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.