UAAP: Dimaculangan bros keep focus on respective teams in first coaching duel

NU Lady Bulldogs coach Karl Dimaculangan. UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Brothers Karl and Jumbo Dimaculangan put their first sibling-rivalry match aside and focused on coaching their own teams in the UAAP Season 84 women’s volleyball tournament.

Karl kept National University unbeaten in four games, handing his elder brother’s fourth straight defeat in dominant fashion, 25-11, 25-20, 25-13, on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Jumbo admitted his Lady Red Warriors were intimidated by the taller and stronger Lady Bulldogs. But he was proud that he and his younger brother remained professional in their first head-to-head as coaches.

UE Lady Red Warriors coach Jumbo Dimaculangan. UAAP PHOTO

“I’m glad because we’re in a different stage. At least we’re able to manage our personal (relationship) from our professional side,” said the UE coach in Filipino after his team fell to 0-4. “We’re brothers outside, but inside the court we are professionals. We’ll just do our thing. He has his own system, I have mine.”

The NU coach, who used to call the shots for UE in the last two seasons, meant business even though he was facing his ‘kuya’ and former team.

“We just want to do our job, regardless of whoever we are facing, our standings or the result. We’re focused on our improvement every game. That’s our goal,” said the younger Dimaculangan in Filipino. “We just compete inside the court.”

Jumbo added he was avoiding making eye contact with his brother during the game so they can stay focused.

“We didn’t look at each other during the game. Usually, you will have a glance of the coach of the opposing side. But earlier, we didn’t because we might laugh at each other. We’re serious because this is a serious competition. We’re just focusing on our respective teams,” he said.

As the eldest among the three siblings, the UE coach is proud to see that all of them are doing well in volleyball as well as their sister Rhea Dimaculangan, who emerged as one of the best setters in the country.

“We never imagined that this time would come that I would face my brother in a game. I’m very happy that the three of us have different roles in volleyball,” Jumbo said. “Sometimes we’re making fun of each other and asking Rhea: ‘Who are you rooting for?’ She said she won’t watch so there will be no hard feelings. We’re sharing jokes like that, typical siblings.”

True enough, the PLDT setter didn’t choose a side and didn’t watch the game at MOA Arena as his two brothers handled their first sibling duel professionally.