PVL: Regine Diego hopes ‘a woman can be the last man standing’ as she leads F2 Logistics

F2 Logistics Coach Regine Diego. – PHOTO of PVL

MANILA, Philippines – New F2 Logistics coach Regine Diego said her multi-title predecessor and college coach Ramil De Jesus chose her to lead the Cargo Movers team in the 2023 Premier Volleyball League season.

La Salle’s former freestyle volleyball coach is determined to prove herself to De Jesus by being “the woman who will be the last man standing” at this All-Philippines Conference, which opens in Next Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Of course, I am honored and happy that it was Coach Ramil who chose me, and my La Sallian family wanted me to be appointed to this team, who are also the owners of the team. i am grateful to them [for] give me this opportunity,” Diego told reporters. “But of course, I have to prove myself.”

Diego, who played as a libero under De Jesus La Salle from UAAP Seasons 70 to 72 including the championship in 2009, wanted to coach Cargo Movers with her coach.

But for now, she needs to help the franchise rise from last season’s bad endings as the lone professional women’s volleyball tactician in PVL.

“I am really happy to be here. I wish I could be with Coach Ramil; That is a dream. But hopefully, eventually, it will happen soon, I can feel it,” she said.

FROM TEAM TO TEACHER

The honored high school coach, who led Nazareth School to a perfect UAAP Season 82 women’s volleyball championship title, also partnered with Father Cruz-Behag and Aby Marano in UAAP. But this time, she will direct the scenes for them as well as Kianna Dy, Kim Fajardo, Ara Galang, Majoy Baron and Dawn Macandili as well as Myla Pablo and Ivy Lacsina.

“At first, I felt strange being a coach, having coached some of my teammates before. But it’s better. I think I’m in a good place because I feel it’s a lot easier to talk to them. Not only as a coach, but as a friend, as well as a teammate, so they understood what I was trying to convey,” said Diego.

“I think that is to our advantage. There is a male-female relationship between the head coach and the players. Hopefully our relationship with each other as friends, as well as former teammates, will be reflected in our games. Now, we are a team. So we have to like, bring all these girls to where we were before. To feel like a champion again,” she added.

With only a month to prepare, Diego isn’t forcing a real big change on her team but she’s prioritizing the Cargo Man’s connection.

“I know they all have skills. I want them to build more connections with each other, I want them to have a better relationship with each other. Anything else? I want them to play together, not just focus on one person in games. So I want results [to be] a team result, not just an individual result,” said the new F2 Logistics coach.

“All my team or our team can do is give their best in every game and try to improve every day, then see,” she added.

Being the rose among the thorns at PVL is an honor for Diego, but she hopes she won’t be the last female head coach of the pro tournament.

For now, she hopes F2 Logistics will be the last team standing in the All-Philippines Conference.

“I am very happy and very happy to be the first, and hopefully not the last. I hope to be the spark that empowers women. But it’s also very stressful for me, because I’m going to lead, or I have to be a good example for the women and girls who are supporting Philippine volleyball,” said Diego. “Hopefully, we’ll do our best and I’ll do my best.”

“And hopefully, a woman can be the last man standing this year,” she added.

Diego made his PVL debut when F2 Logistics played against PLDT, under Reinforced champion coach Rald Ricafort, on February 7 at the Philsports Arena.

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