MANILA, Philippines — Former PVL setter Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete found a new passion as an assistant coach with the University of the East men’s volleyball team along with her brother Jumbo in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball tournament.

UE may have started its season off the wrong foot with a 25-19, 23-25, 26-24, 16-25, 16-18 meltdown to the University of the Philippines but Dimaculangan still had a great time passing her learnings to the young Red Warriors and helping out coach Jerome Guhit on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

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“Sobrang happy ako kahit ganon yung naging result ng game kasi nakakamiss yung UAAP. Sobrang iba yung feeling na pagdating sa UAAP kasi labanan ng school spirit so happy and nakaka — siguro parang iba na kasi yung feeling ngayon na coach, ibang role na. Medyo nakakakaba pala maging coach,” said Dimaculangan, who played for University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP in early 2010s.

READ: PVL: PLDT hopes to make do sans newlywed Rhea Dimaculangan

Setter Rhea Dimaculangan-Villarete is happy to help the UE Red Warriors as an assistant coach in the #UAAPSeason87 men’s volleyball. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/9mqUOQ6pPA

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) February 15, 2025

The UAAP Season 72 champion and Finals MVP is focused on developing the UE setters including Andre Bicar — the brother of PVL player Alina.

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The ex-University of Santo Tomas standout admitted it’s easier to play than to coach but she’s thrilled to learn from Guhit and her brother Jumbo and even from the players, too.

“Sobrang laking adjustment kasi yun nga kailangan ikaw na yung magtuturo eh tapos kailangan kung anong maobserve mo, ishare mo agad sa mga bata,” she said. “Naging madali siya kasi kuya ko and si coach Jerome yung kasama ko so sabi naman nila no pressure basta kung ano sa tingin mo yung naoobserve mo, ishare mo lang din. Ganon yung ginagawa ko.”

Dimaculangan, once, contributed to the rise of women’s volleyball during her prime. Now, she hopes to help Philippine men’s volleyball reach greater heights.

READ: Volleyball player Rhea Dimaculangan gets engaged

“Excited saka natutuwa ako kasi kahit ako natututo ako sa kanila. Natututo ako in a way na hindi lang sa skills eh, pati kung paano maging bata kasi bata pa eh kparang ikaw na yung tumutulong para imold towards sa pagiging professional so excited,” she said.

Dimaculangan parted ways with PLDT before the season but she is still open to return to the PVL when an opportunity comes.

“Open pa rin. Actually kung may opportunity na dumating why not? Kasi itong coaching dumating lang siya so ginrab ko lang. Why not diba? Ibang experience naman,” she said.