For the first time in her coaching career, NU Lady Bulldogs head coach Regine Diego will go up against her mentor, La Salle Lady Spikers head coach Ramil de Jesus, as their teams collide to close the first round of eliminations in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 15, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Before transitioning into coaching, Diego was a player for the Lady Spikers under De Jesus, winning four UAAP championships during her collegiate career. Because of this, the upcoming matchup holds special meaning for her as she faces the coach who helped shape her volleyball journey.
“It’s an honor to share the court with him. Hopefully, he’s proud of me that we’re here,” she said.
From Playing Under RDJ to Coaching Just Like Him
After her playing days with La Salle, Regine Diego shifted her focus to coaching, eventually taking charge of the Philippine girls’ volleyball team. In 2023, she also handled the now-defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers—the same franchise that De Jesus previously guided to five championships in the Philippine Super Liga.
Now back in the UAAP, Diego returned to NU to steer the women’s squad, while De Jesus continues to lead the Lady Spikers in his 29th season at the helm.
The odds appear to favor the still-unbeaten Lady Spikers, who remain anchored by the core of Season 85 Rookie of the Year-MVP Angel Canino, team captain Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Season 87 Best Libero Lyka de Leon.
Regine Diego Handling NU’s Transition
Meanwhile, the Lady Bulldogs are in a period of transition following the graduation of their golden batch, led by Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.
“We have a lot of things to work on. Sila kasi, kakaunti lang yung changes, sa amin kasi we have to change a lot—a lot of people, new people. And we have to learn to know each other,” Diego explained.
“It’s a little bit different then. La Salle is La Salle, but NU is also NU. We still have that championship mentality. Hopefully, mailabas namin siya sa game. As in trabaho lang talaga kami and hopefully, we get more wins along the way and we do our best not just with La Salle, but also with all our games.”
Regine Diego and her Lady Bulldogs face off against De Jesus’ Lady Archers later today at 3:00 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
