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Once the batch that defined a dynasty, the ‘Golden Generation’ is now National University’s guiding light for UAAP Season 88.
For the past four years, National University has ruled UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament behind the excellence of their “Golden Generation”, the homegrown batch led by Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
But as they say, all good things come to an end, with those stars turning professional after National U’s title repeat in UAAP Season 87. Save for a few key holdovers, it’s a much-different crew that will represent the Blue and Gold for Season 88.
Still, coach Regine Diego knows that the Golden Generation’s legacy will serve as the foundation as they kick off a new era.
“That batch was like eight years or more together, and this year, we’re trying to rebuild and we’re trying to replicate that batch in less than a year,” Diego told reporters during the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Volleyball Press Conference on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“So of course there will be expectations. There will be pressure, but that batch is also our guide; so hopefully, we can make everyone proud by doing our best this year, because I think everyone is going to be very competitive.”
Now leading the Lady Bulldogs is fourth-year spiker Vange Alinsug and libero Shaira Jardio, while setter Lams Lamina is returning for one final year. Behind them are a promising crop of rookies headlined by juniors’ standout Sam Cantada.
Even with a revamped core, National U has continued to flex its might, completing a four-peat in the Shakey’s Super League, and ruling Season 2 of the Maharlika Pilipinas Volleyball Association as the Dasmariñas Monarchs.
This, along with the standards set by their predecessors, immediately raises the stakes for National U ahead of Season 88, a fact that Diego and the Lady Bulldogs are well-aware of.
“I always remind them that with or without us looking at comments on social media, it will always affect us. So what we can do is to shut down the noise as much as we can by not being more active online, but being more active with each other’s presence,” she said.
“We also have to stay focused on the process syempre. Because if we don’t focus on the process, then madaming distractions din kami [na] maeentertain, so what we can do is to remind them everyday and to help each other go through all the hardships and challenges we are going to experience.”
As their new coach, Diego is encouraging the Lady Bulldogs to build their “own system”, especially after four coaching changes in as many years.
“I want them to make their own system, what they’re good at, what they think works, or what they’re comfortable with. I try to make it a ‘them’ system,” said Diego, who takes over from concurrent Creamline coach Sherwin Meneses.
“It’s a hodgepodge of all the things they’ve learned over the past few years, and hopefully, it works by just reinforcing what they’re good at, and all the best practices they’ve been with all their previous coaches.”
With NU entering a new and unfamiliar era, Diego is also banking on the leadership of her veterans — from the Lamina-Alinsug-Jardio trio, to other holdovers such as Chammy Maaya and Niks Mata.
“[Leadership] is very crucial because the girls na natira were not usually the people who lead the team. So they have to understand that they have to lead with or without a line under their name. They know this is the game where we have to be together all the time,” she said.
“They have to learn how to lead because alam naman natin na this is new for them, but madami naman silang senior. ‘Di naman nagiisa si Vange, di naman nagiisa si Lams, nandiyan din sila Cham-cham [Maaya], sila Shaira. So crucial ‘yung leadership talaga because we’re all trying to do this together. ”
If the stars align, UAAP Season 88 might just be a reminder that the path to glory still goes through Jhocson.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.