Romwel Anzures

UE Lady Warriors head coach Allen Mendoza in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. Photo from UAAP Media.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1741166886250UAAP 87 WVB NU vs. UE- Allan Mendoza-3029.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="UE Lady Warriors head coach Allen Mendoza in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. Photo from UAAP Media."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">UE Lady Warriors head coach Allen Mendoza in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. <em>Photo from UAAP Media.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — University of the East is doing everything it can to post a breakthrough victory in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.</div><p>The Lady Warriors, however, again fell short of earning their first win on Wednesday as they were swept by Far Eastern University.</p><p>Nonetheless, they showed promise in their performance, especially in the first two sets.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/3/5/uaap-lady-tams-sweep-lady-warriors-for-second-straight-win-1542">READ: Lady Tams sweep Lady Warriors for second straight win</a></div><p>Though they are 0-5 midway through the first round, interim UE head coach Allan Mendoza believes all hope is not lost for the Recto-based spikers.</p><p>“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, maganda naman yung nilalaro nila at ang problema lang nila yung final touches eh,” he told ABS-CBN News before exiting the Mall of Asia Arena.</p><p>There were multiple points where UE held leads against FEU, and for Mendoza, sustaining those is just a matter of his squad learning to stay composed throughout the contest.</p><p>“We have to be very careful din talaga na pag sinimulan namin ng maganda,” he said. “Dapat tapusin namin ng maayos hanggang sa dulo. Pinapaalala ko lang rin sa kanila na ‘wag silang mawalan ng gana kapag nalalamangan or nagkakaroon ng problema sa loob ng court.”</p><p>“We just have to be intact with our system, and yung fighting spirit, dapat hanggang dulo lang,” he added.</p><p>Mendoza was named as UE’s head tactician just weeks ahead of the opening of Season 87, as his role was made official last January 27.</p><p>And he admitted that his late appointment in UE — a squad that also saw the likes of Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero exit their program — is an overwhelming experience for him.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/1/15/its-official-casiey-dongallo-3-others-leave-ue-transfer-to-up-1237">READ: Casiey Dongallo, 3 others leave UE, transfer to UP</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/2/16/casiey-dongallo-on-her-transfer-kahit-nasa-up-ako-di-ko-pa-rin-nakalimutan-yung-ue-1531">READ: Casiey Dongallo on her transfer: ‘Kahit nasa UP ako, ‘di ko pa rin nakalimutan yung UE’</a></div><p>“Sa akin, sobrang challenging,” said Mendoza, who was a deputy to former UE coaches Jerry Yee and Doctor Obet Vital.</p><p>Vital transferred to UP, much like how Dongallo and company moved to Diliman, but this is not the first time that Mendoza has tried to overcome adversity in a tournament.</p><p>“Hindi na siya bago sa akin. Nung nasa Palarong Pambansa ako, I had eight players lang din sa Cebu. Ngayon, iniisip ko lang na nasa ganoong sitwasyon ulit ako,” he shared.</p><p>Mendoza, who was Region IV-A’s coach during the 2024 games in Cebu, revealed that he had to deal with a shorthanded squad during the regionals and the Palaro itself.</p><p>“I only had eight players. Typically, dapat I have 12 players for Palaro, pero during the regionals I only had eight, then nung Palaro seven na lang,” he bared. “Challenging din yun kasi wala na akong rotation, isa na lang sub ko.”</p><p>“Kaunti na lang kami, pero umabot kami ng quarterfinals with only seven players. Based on the results, unofficially, umabot kami sa fifth place after ng competition,” he continued.</p><p>That is why despite UE’s winless campaign in five games so far, Mendoza is confident that the Lady Warriors will eventually figure things out and overcome the growing pains that they have been fighting through.</p><p>“Parang naglalaro lang ako ng chess,” he said. “I have to pick the best pieces na meron ako, and we just have to play through the challenges na kinakaharap namin ngayon.”</p><p>“Hindi naman tayo nawawalan ng pagasa. It’s only still half of the season, we still have Round 2 para i-tama yung flaws at pagkukulang namin. Ilalaban namin ‘to hanggang dulo,” Mendoza added. <strong></strong><br/></p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong> <script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABVCD_zeFXHV9kQd"></script></div>

<p>University of the East is doing everything it can to post its breakthrough victory in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.</p>

University of the East is doing everything it can to post its breakthrough victory in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.

UAAP: Amid struggles, UE coach draws strength from past experiences in Palarong Pambansa

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UAAP: Amid struggles, UE coach draws strength from past experiences in Palarong Pambansa

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 05, 2025 06:18 PM PHT

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