NU coach Regine Diego calls for kinder treatment of players from fans

MANILA, Philippines – As bizarre as it is, athletes are forced to develop a thick skin for all the hurtful things they have to endure from fans of the game. 

But even then, they are still humans who have feelings.

NU Lady Bulldogs head coach Regine Diego asked fans to be kinder towards players after rookie hitter Sam Cantada faced heckling in her UAAP women’s volleyball debut, on top of online backlash she received following her transfer from Adamson last year.

“It should be all about sports, right? I wish fans are better in this matter because these are student-athletes. I think it’s nice to be gentle to everyone,” said Diego in a mix of Filipino and English after their 25-23, 25-19, 28-26 win over the Lady Falcons on Wednesday, February 18.

Cantada, who admitted to feeling the enormous pressure as she joined an NU side entering a new era following the departures of three-time UAAP champions Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, has learned to tune out the noise.

And it shows in her performance.

Cantada turned in a smashing performance in their Season 88 opener, firing a match-high 21 points to go with 14 receptions in a 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24 victory over perennial contenders UST Golden Tigresses last Sunday, February 15.

She then led the team in scoring again with 16 points against Adamson.

“I always tell them that there are some things we cannot control. We just have to accept and just move forward. We just have to have laser focus in the game because we cannot stop them. We can’t just go to the crowd and tell them to stop,” said Diego.

“What we can do is just focus on our team and focus on what’s important.” 

Given the reins to a squad seeking a third straight UAAP crown, Diego — who became the Lady Bulldogs’ fourth head coach in the last five seasons — is also trying to get her wards to buy in to a one-wins-all-wins attitude. 

With NU having a huge target on its back, Diego needs her players to be on the same page. 

“I know that this team understands what the needs of the team are and I know that all of the players we have this season will help us out throughout the season. This is going to be a very long season. So there are going to be transitions with players coming in and out of the bench,” said Diego. 

“We just trust whoever is going in. Whoever is on the court, everybody is going to support, because we are trying to let them understand that we should clap for others when it is not our time yet.

“So we’re trying to support each other whenever we can and give our best when it’s our time.” – Rappler.com