MANILA, Philippines — One similarity that coach Sherwin Meneses noticed between his new college team National University, and his champion club team Creamline is the players’ competitiveness.

Instilling his system to an emerging dynasty team in the UAAP wasn’t hard for Meneses, who already proved himself in the PVL by steering Creamline to seven of its 10 titles including a historic Grand Slam in the 2024 season.

Article continues after this advertisement

Fresh off Creamline’s out-of-town game in Candon, Ilocos Sur, Meneses guided the Lady Bulldogs to a historic “three-peat” in the Shakey’s Super League Pre-Season Championship.

READ: Bella Belen, NU Lady Bulldogs stay hungry ahead of UAAP title defense

It was the decorated coach’s first local stint with NU since being hired in late August that also marked his return to the collegiate scene since calling the shots for his alma mater Adamson in 2016.

“Siguro ‘yung attitude ng players kasi talagang napaka-competitive ng NU and Creamline. ‘Yun naman talaga ‘yung number one sa team, mapa-bench player o star player. ‘Yun ‘yung nakita kong maganda sa team, talagang teamwork din kapag gumalaw,” Meneses told reporters.

Article continues after this advertisement

But Meneses cleared that aside from the competitiveness, NU and Creamline have their own identities.

“Masaya rin kasi ang goal lang naman is talagang ma-improve pa ‘yung champion team talaga. Hopefully, madala pa namin ‘yung panalo ngayon sa UAAP, ‘yun naman talaga ‘yung target na ma-improve pa siguro ‘yung NU at marami pang ipapakita,” said Meneses.

“‘Yung NU, established na ‘yan talaga. Tinutulungan lang talaga natin na ma-improve pa nang mas maganda. Hopefully, ‘yung buong sistema ng NU, mas mag-combine para mas matibay. ‘Yung UAAP, test para sa’min ‘yan.”

Belen, a two-time SSL and UAAP MVP, is honored to be under the tutelage of Meneses, who even coached in Game 1 on Friday hours before traveling to Ilocos Sur for Creamline’s Saturday and went back to Manila right after their PVL game.

“Kahit na bago pa lang si coach Sherwin. Hindi na ganon kabago yung sistema niya sa amin, kasi medyo same same naman doon sa Creamline and sa amin yung mga passes, yung mga play. So yun nagdadagdag lang si coach Sherwin kung ano sa tingin niyang pwede pa niyang maidagdag sa team,” said Belen.

READ: NU Lady Bulldogs seal preseason ‘three-peat,’ this time with new coach

“Hindi pa namin siya parang 100 percent na nakukuha. Kasi mag-isang buwan pa lang si Coach Sherwin sa NU. Pero I’m very thankful kay coach Sherwin. Naglalaro lang kami sa loob ng court pero yung coach yung tumutulong sa amin.”

Apart from the opportunity to help NU make more history, Meneses also had good reasons to accept the school’s offer.

“‘Yung opportunity, nandyan lang talaga. ‘Yung wife ko at saka ‘yung mga baby ko, sa NU nag-aaral talaga tapos malapit pa sa’min. ‘Yung timing lang siguro, ‘yung opportunity na mapunta sa NU, bigla na lang dumating. Hopefully, mag-succeed tayo sa UAAP,” he said.

“Siyempre malaking challenge yung UAAP kasi para sa akin, ‘yan talaga ‘yung pinaka-magandang labanan, school by school. Galing na ko diyan, talagang napaka-competitive ng bawat school so excited na kong makabalik sa UAAP at matulungan ‘yung NU na ma-defend ‘yung crown nila.”