Shaq retains love for game
Alta Sports3 days ago ยท 161 views
Photo: PVL
By Rachel Gonzales
The past week was tough for coach Shaq Delos Santos after Cignal filed a leave of absence from the Premier Volleyball League and University of Santo Tomas’ title hopes were shattered in the last stage of the stepladder semifinals in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.
Delos Santos could have easily quit after a string of heartbreaks. But his love for the game will never fade.
He remained grateful despite his return as UST head coach couldn’t bring the Tigresses back to the Finals, and even after Cignal opted to call it quits from the PVL despite a runner-up finish.
Photo: PVLBut the veteran coach got another opportunity, returning to the women’s national team program as the deputy of Alas Pilipinas coach Tai Bundit.
“I’m happy and thankful for the opportunity once again. It’s another blessing and another chance to represent the country and share my knowledge,” Delos Santo said.
“I also think it’s a great opportunity to learn under Coach Tai (Bundit). I’m sure we’ll learn a lot from him.”
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has tapped coaches Delos Santos and Sherwin Meneses of Creamline as well as Benson Bocboc of Farm Fresh and JP Yude of Adamson University and his Criss Cross staff Geuel Asia and Krung Arbasto.
Delos Santos is returning to the women’s national team program after handling the team in the 2018 Asian Games and 2019 SEA Games.
The seasoned coach won titles for UST in the UAAP, for Petron in the now-defunct Philippine Super Liga, and brought Cignal to its third silver medal finish.
“We’ll help in the best way we can. Right now, I still don’t totally know what my role will be, but I think the most important thing is helping with the kind of program Coach Tai wants to build. And whenever needed, I’ll also share whatever knowledge I can,” he said.
Photo: PVLAlas will compete in the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup, set from June 6 to 14 in Candon City, where the national team will look to sustain its silver-medal finish in the previous edition.
Letran College further bolstered its stacked guard rotation after securing the commitments of Daryl Valdeavilla and JB Lim for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 102 men’s basketball tournament.
Valdeavilla, a 6-foot guard formerly from the University of the Philippines Integrated School, was a key cog in the Letran Squires’ NCAA Season 101 juniors’ basketball championship run, averaging 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.1 blocks.
Lim, meanwhile, previously made a name for himself with Saint Clare College in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (NAASCU).
The duo is the latest batch of high school standouts to commit to Letran, with Season 101 Finals Most Valuable Player Justin Cargo also set to move up to the senior team.
The trio will provide added depth to the Knights’ already loaded backcourt, which features all-around playmaker Jonathan Manalili and scoring guard Jimboy Estrada.
Valdeavilla, Lim, and Cargo will each have five years of eligibility in the collegiate ranks.
All comments 1
MARTIN LEONARDO PLOPENIO
Theirs happy pass3 days agoReply
0No more comments
3
1
1
Share