UAAP champions meet in an UST-FEU clash. But this time in Season 87, Haydee Ong and Raiza Palmera-Dy square off as head coaches on opposite sides of the court.
UST head coach Haydee Ong will once again be facing one of her former players on the sidelines, as her Growling Tigresses finish the first round of UAAP Season 87 against the FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, October 5, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Having shaped a number of careers in women’s basketball, FEU head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy is the latest of Ong’s players that have taken up a career on the sidelines. Among the pioneers of women’s basketball, she’s simply happy to see more female coaches.
“Of course, parang kina Coach Ai [Lebornio], kay Ewon [Arayi] before, I’m very happy na 'yung village namin dumadami,” Ong told One Sports.
“It’s a welcome opportunity for women coaches parati. I don’t feel na competitor ko si Raiza, but a family na kailangan pa namin magkaron ng mas maraming women coaches.”
Ong is one of the more accomplished women’s basketball coaches in the UAAP – having won the UAAP women’s basketball title last year.
But even as her former national team player currently struggles with the Lady Tamaraws, Ong knows there is much more to achieve.
“'Pag ka nga may time, nag-uusap kami ni Raiza and I told her na just keep striving hard, be consistent sa players niya. It’s a long journey, 'wag pag-hinaan ng loob. Dadating din 'yung mga panalo in the future,” the UST coach added.
Ong and Palmera-Dy were together on the same side of the court during their time with the women’s national team, then called Perlas Pilipinas.
Ong’s assistant Allana Lim too was Palmera-Dy’s teammate back in college, and also played on the national team.
The troika reunite on the basketball court as foes, but will continue to represent the women’s hoops community in the country.
The Growling Tigresses head into battle with the Lady Tamaraws on a tear, flaunting a 5-1 record and are in solo second as they reach the half way mark of their title defense.
Meanwhile, the Lady Tamaraws will be a win-hungry bunch come tip off as they aim to finish the first round on a high with their second win of the year.
Earlier in the season, FEU gave Palmera-Dy her first win as head coach when they won against the UE Lady Warriors.
Heading into the final weekend of the first round, all teams have won at least one game in the women’s hoops tournament.
FEU-UST opens weekend hostilities in Pasay City with tip off slated at 11:30 a.m.