UAAP: NU coach Sherwin Meneses relishes triumphant UAAP return

NU coach Sherwin Meneses in his first game back in the UAAP. The Lady Bulldogs beat the La Salle Lady Spikers in three sets in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — National University coach Sherwin Meneses relished his winning comeback in the UAAP after getting a rare opening win over La Salle’s legendary coach Ramil De Jesus in the Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.

Nine years after his exit from his alma mater Adamson, Meneses made his UAAP coaching return with the the Lady Bulldogs, steering them to a 25-23. 25-21, 25-18 sweep of La Salle on Sunday in front of 16,000 fans at Mall of Asia Arena.

The 2024 PVL grand slam champion coach had a great time in his first showdown against the 12-time UAAP titlist since 2016 when he last handled the Lady Falcons.

READ: UAAP: Defending champion NU handles La Salle

“Siyempre, nung una, excited talaga. Syempre La Salle yung makakalaban namin. Second, happy talaga ako kasi siyempre straight sets ka nanalo. Yung mga players talagang nagre-respond kapag kinakausap mo,” said Meneses. “Masaya ako sa first game ko sa pagbalik ko sa UAAP. Yung mga veteran players namin talagang nagtrabaho ngayon. Gustong gusto nila talaga nilang manalo.”

Since their last duel in the UAAP, De Jesus is happy for Meneses, who made his mark in the pros with seven PVL titles for Creamline. 

“Happy ako sa kanya kasi halos lahat ng teams na napuntahan niya maayos at buo. Then may sinasaksak sistema niya na sa tingin ko naman unti-unting nakukuha nung kalaban, happy ako sa kanya sa career niya,” said De Jesus, who first lost an opening game in 13 years.

De Jesus also believes that the connection between Bella Belen and her high school teammates brought them to this high level of play.

READ: Sherwin Meneses raring for UAAP return with NU unfazed by pressure

“‘Yun ‘yung isa sa mga strengths ng NU. Dahil sa tagal nilang magkakasama, alam nila ‘yung weakness, alam nila ‘yung strengths, ‘yun ‘yung advantage talaga ng NU. Hindi sila mara-rattle, alam nila kung sino ‘yung go-to-guy kaya very solid ‘yung NU,” he said.

Meneses, for his part, said he’s just trying to bring out the best in the defending champions.

“Champion team na yung NU talagang sinasabihan lang namin talaga na one point at a time lang kasi yung champion past na yun so talagang dapat trabahuhin yung pag-defend ng crown. Hindi basta-basta. So everytime na makaka-one point kami, dumadali yung pagdefend ng crown,” Meneses said. “Ganun lang muna ka-simple yung target namin. Any opponent, nasa lower, nasa higher rank, one point at a time lang kami.”