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

F2 Logistics Trainer Regine Diego —PHOTOS BY PVL

Regine Diego is playing in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) for the first time but speaks like a seasoned tactician.

With his F2 squad off to a great start to the All-Filipino Conference, Diego was quick to temper expectations and brush aside all praise, saying that he and the Cargo Movers are just getting started and still have a lot to learn.

“It wasn’t our goal,” Diego said of his 2-0 start as he put his unbeaten record on the line against F2’s first acid test in another squad with a perfect start and fellow title favorite Chery Tiggo. “This is still a journey. And we are just starting to prepare with me as the head coach.

“It’s different, and I have to be patient because I can’t expect much,” Diego continued in Filipino. “I have to make them [players] feel first what I want to translate [from practice to games].”

Thursday’s match, which will also be an early lead for the champions, will be at 4pm before the battle between Army and PLDT at 6:30pm at the PhilSports Arena.

Not breathing

Diego is the first and only female coach in the league. He has started his career here after a victory in PLDT in five sets and one over Akari which was decided in three close frames.

And Diego knows that the going gets tough from here. That’s when he realized that his team couldn’t breathe.

“We have to learn patiently. We can’t do it overnight,” he continued. “We have to process everything and hopefully, we will be solid as a team.

“It’s normal for a team to be inconsistent in the first few games. To be fair to them, they are constantly learning. Hopefully, we will get better every game. Chery Tiggo coach Aaron Velez will ask his ward to do well against Cargo Movers.

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

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