FEU legend Raiza Palmera-Dy just couldn’t say no to the perfect opportunity of coming back to the Lady Tamaraws in UAAP Season 87.
There are times in life, when things don’t go according to your expectations.
That was exactly what happened for women’s hoops icon Raiza Palmera-Dy as she found herself back with the FEU Lady Tamaraws years after graduating as a two-time UAAP champion--this time as the team’s head coach.
Because of her caliber as a player, which included an immensely high basketball IQ, Palmera-Dy was no stranger to offers to take coaching roles with different teams. But up until recently, it was all out of the question.
Having to play many roles in women’s basketball and in her family, the UAAP Season 74 MVP just couldn’t find it in her to take another job.
“Itong coaching stint ko, wala ito sa plan at all. I got an offer years ago [from] different universities. So tinurn down ko just because hindi talaga plano. Wala sa plano ko 'yung pagko-coach because I have my own family, we have our own business din,” Palmera-Dy said after making her coaching debut last weekend against the Adamson Lady Falcons.
But when the Lady Tamaraws came knocking, they made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“Then this came up. I got an offer from FEU and then sabi ko sa management, ang hirap tumanggi but I have to take [it] for two to three days. To cut the story short, I accepted the job. I embraced it and now we’re here.” she said.
“Ang bilis ng panahon. Dati nire-represent ko lang 'yung FEU, but now I represent it as a coach.”
Coming from her own experience, Palmera-Dy said that people in the women’s basketball community should not hesitate when they are given chances like this. As she became one of the growing number of women’s coaches in UAAP basketball, the decorated basketball veteran urged women--especially the young ones--to take up their space.
“'Yun nga, 'di natin nakikita kung ano plan ni God para satin eh. So if meron nag-open na door, go and grab it,” said Palmera-Dy.
“Me, inisip ko rin, taking this job, it’s like representing the women’s community na rin aside from Coach Haydee [Ong], aside from Coach Ayie Libornio of UE, so at least may mga young ones na pumapasok even my former teammate at FEU, si Allana Lim na part ngayon ng coaching staff naman ng UST… 'Yung women’s community din yung nagkikita kita dito sa women’s basketball here in the UAAP.”
As for how far she wants to take her team, Palmera-Dy was not shy in making it known to her team exactly what she expected from them.
After finishing in the bottom half of the standings in recent years, she urged them to shoot for bigger goals by working to get into the Final Four of a highly competitive UAAP field.
Though maybe considered as one of the dark horses of the league, she hopes to bring a tough challenge to the table for whoever they face.
“Definitely Final Four ['yung goal]. So, when I came here, sabi ko sa mga bata, I’m a very competitive player nung naglalaro pa ko, so as a coach, ganun yung gusto ko ma-instill satin.” she said.
“Maging competitive tayo, pahirapan natin every opponent and 'yun 'yung gusto ko maging marka ng FEU — every time, whoever man 'yung kalaban namin, every time pasasakitin namin 'yung ulo nila.”
That is exactly what Palmera-Dy hopes her players do when they face perennial powerhouse NU Saturday morning at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tip off is scheduled at 11:30 a.m.
The game will air on One Sports, the UAAP Varsity Channel, and the Pilipinas Live app.