Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Regine Diego

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – National University Lady Bulldogs head coach Regine Diego is focused on maintaining a winning culture, as they aim for a UAAP three-peat following the departures of former stars Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.Despite feeling the pressure of leading the back-to-back defending champions, Diego said the team is not back to square one or in rebuilding mode.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2025/9/4/new-nu-coach-regine-diego-acknowledges-extra-work-needs-to-be-done-in-3-peat-campaign-2134">READ: New NU coach Regine Diego acknowledges &#x27;extra work&#x27; needs to be done in 3-peat campaign</a></div>&quot;Well, of course, there will always be pressure. This is the UAAP and this is the NU team, so everything has challenges, everything is pressure for me. But, you know, I just want them to play their best and I want them to be healthy,&quot; Diego told reporters at the UAAP Season 88 Volleyball press conference on Wednesday.&quot;So, as much as we can, we will do our best to defend the title. Rebuilding should not be in our minds and we just play as champions,&quot; she added.Diego is making her debut in the UAAP collegiate volleyball scene as head coach, after previously leading the NU Nazareth School team in Season 82.&quot;It&#x27;s not as new for me because I was also an assistant coach for the NU women&#x27;s team before. So, it&#x27;s almost the same, but the difference is I&#x27;m leading them all,&quot; Diego explained.&quot;There&#x27;s a lot of pressure just because these girls want it more,&quot; she said. &quot;I see the fire inside them that this is going to be a tough year. But this will pave the way for the future, so we&#x27;re doing our best to make it better for NU,&quot; the NU head coach shared.Diego pointed out the Lady Bulldogs still boast a talented squad with UAAP Season 87 co-Finals MVPs Vange Alinsug and Shaira Jardio, as well as veteran setter Lams Lamina leading the way.She acknowledged the impact of Belen on the NU volleyball program, but said it will require the same effort and hard work to keep the momentum going.&quot;Well, there are a lot of girls that came in this year. So, when someone leaves, there&#x27;s always a new one coming. So, we just have to work as a team. And, of course, we have to gel because Bella&#x27;s time is over. And that Bella era, it&#x27;s been a long process. So, again, we start from scratch. But we don&#x27;t start as new, but we still start as champions,&quot; she said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/2/10/uaap-unbreakable-lady-bulldogs-unfazed-as-national-u-enters-new-era-2245">READ: ‘Unbreakable’ Lady Bulldogs unfazed as National U enters new era</a></div>Even if veterans like Alinsug, Jardio and Lamina all have championship experience, Diego said every NU player needs to step up for them to fulfill their three-peat bid.&quot;All the seniors, not just Vange and Shaira, have a crucial role for the team this year. We really need to work together, especially the seniors. They have to lead. Not just them, but all of them who were there last year and the champion years before,&quot; Diego said.&quot;We just have to hold on to each other. So, we really need the help of everyone,&quot; she added.Aside from Alinsug, Jardio and Lamina, NU still has Chamy Maaya, Arah Panique; as well as the addition of UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ MVP Sam Cantada.When asked what her goal is in her head coaching debut, Diego said she&#x27;s keeping her eyes on the prize: winning a championship for NU.&quot;That&#x27;s everybody&#x27;s goal, to have championships one after another, championships more than three-peat. Our goal is to do it every year. But all we can do is play our best. Because this year is going to be a very tight competition,&quot; she shared.&quot;It&#x27;s a privilege, though, that we&#x27;re here and we get to play with each other. And we learn and we improve volleyball for the Philippines,&quot; Diego explained.The NU Lady Bulldogs will kick off their title defense against the UST Golden Tigresses on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

#UAAPSeason88 | National University Lady Bulldogs head coach Regine Diego is focused on maintaining a winning culture, as they aim for a UAAP three-peat following the departures of former stars Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.

#UAAPSeason88 | National University Lady Bulldogs head coach Regine Diego is focused on maintaining a winning culture, as they aim for a UAAP three-peat following the departures of former stars Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon.

UAAP: Regine Diego aims to keep winning culture in NU as Lady Bulldogs eye three-peat

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UAAP: Regine Diego aims to keep winning culture in NU as Lady Bulldogs eye three-peat

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 11, 2026 10:12 PM PHT

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volleyball

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UAAP Season 88

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NU Lady Bulldogs

Regine Diego

National University

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