HIS LAID-BACK demeanor belies his ability to transform struggling teams into champions.
Nes Pamilar often shies away from the spotlight. But the 47-year-old mentor’s latest accomplishment cannot be ignored after piloting the Cagayan Valley Rising Suns to a historic perfect 16-game campaign in the Shakey’s V-League Season 10 Open Conference Sunday night at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
“It’s a great feeling to have achieved this,” said Pamilar. “But the credit goes to my players for putting in the work and sacrificing for the team’s cause.”
Pamilar’s ability to inject a winning formula on teams is noteworthy.
As a player, he helped steer Far Eastern U’s improbable run in the 80s to end a decades-old UAAP title drought. As a coach, he piloted the Letran Lady Knights to their first-ever NCAA championship in 12 seasons in the 90s.
“That’s very memorable for me, and it’s the same feeling I felt when, as a player, I was part of the FEU team that won the UAAP championship in 1986 to end a 37-year drought. I was also the coach of the Letran women’s team that won an NCAA crown in 1997 to end a 12-year spell,” said Pamilar.
“I’m just happy to be part of these teams and with Cagayan Valley, it’s like FEU and Letran all over again, it’s just a historic moment for me,” added Pamilar during the Rising Suns’ celebration.
The Rising Suns proved more than equal to every challenge in their second crack at a
V-League crown. With Thai imports Phomia Soraya and Kannika Thipachot at the helm, the Rising Suns swept Smart-Maynilad in the finals.
Pamilar also counted on Wenneth Eulalio, Pau Soriano, Shiela Pineda, Angelique Dionela, Leuseht Dawis, Joy Benito, Relea Saet, Rose Vargas, Alarnie Puylong and Sandra delos Santos throughout their campaign.
Cagayan manager Criselda Antonio, also the Mayor of Alcala, Cagayan, said the sweep was unexpected.