‘Journey’ goes on for Regine Diego as F2, Chery eye lead share

F2 Logistics coach Regine Diego —PHOTOS BY PVL

Regine Diego is calling the shots in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) for the first time but is talking very much like a seasoned tactician.

With her F2 squad off to a great All-Filipino Conference start, Diego was quick to temper expectations and deflect all praise, saying instead that she and the Cargo Movers are just getting started and that they still have a lot to learn.

“This is not our destination,” Diego said of their 2-0 start as they put that unbeaten record on the line against F2’s first acid test in another squad off to a perfect start and a fellow title favorite—Chery Tiggo. “This is still a journey. And we’re just getting started to prepare with me as their head coach.

“So it’s different, and I have to be patient because I cannot expect a lot,” Diego continued in Filipino. “I have to make them [players] feel first what I want them to translate [from practice to games].”

Their clash on Thursday, which would also mean a share of the early lead for the winner, will be at 4 p.m. before Army and PLDT battle in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap at PhilSports Arena.

No breather

Diego is the first and only lady coach in the league. She has had a grand start to her career here after victories over PLDT in five sets and one over Akari that was decided in three close frames.

And Diego knows that the grind gets tougher from here. That’s why she knows that her team can’t take a breather.

“We have to be patient in learning. We can’t do it overnight,” she went on. “We have to really process everything and hopefully, we will become solid as a team.

“It’s normal for a team to be really inconsistent in the first few games. To be fair to them, they are consistently learning. Hopefully, we get better every game.” Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez will be asking his wards to dig deep against the Cargo Movers.

“They’re a very tall team. Of course, they also have the championship experience,” said Velez, who steered the Crossovers to the title in the 2021 bubble edition in Ilocos Norte.