New UP head coach Benson Bocboc has lofty goals for his first year at the helm for the Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 87.
There are no goals too big for newcomer head coach Benson Bocboc as he takes the reigns for the UP Fighting Maroons in UAAP women’s volleyball, just a year after the finished at the bottom of the standings in Season 86.
That is, coming from a decorated program like the DLSU Lady Spikers, Bocboc isn’t shy of setting the standard high for his ladies in Diliman.
Despite more of the fanfare going into their offseason with acquisitions led by star hitter Casiey Dongallo and coach Obet Vital, Bocboc believes there is enough firepower in the current lineup to shakeup the standings for UAAP Season 87.
Though falling short of reaching for the stars and the title, Bocboc sets his sights on the Final Four.
“Sa akin, resulta na [hinahanap ko]. Wala nang excuse. Dalawang taon, tatlong taon, wala na kasing ganon ngayon eh.” Bocboc told One Sports during the UAAP Media Day.
“So, ngayon, nandito kami ngayon, gagawan namin ng paraan ngayon. So ang target initially ay Top 4.”
The Fighting Maroons have been missing out on the Final Four for almost a decade now, having last qualified back in UAAP Season 78, where they were led by the likes of then rookies Tots Carlos and Isa Molde.
But what Bocboc hopes will take them to the next level now isn’t exactly their skills, rather, the mindset.
Coming from a team like the Lady Spikers, Bocboc knows that it’s also about instilling the system that will help them believe that they can win — especially after years of mediocrity since their Final Four stint in Season 78.
“Sa nakita ko, kailangan masanay sila or ma-adapt nila na manalo. In a way kultura kasi yun eh. So hindi siya… Regardless kung superstar ka na nandiyan, pero kung kultura nung team eh hindi nanalo, mukhang hindi mananalo,” said Bocboc.
“So, siguro sa batch na to, sana makuha nila, masimulan tapos madala ng iba,” he added.
Bocboc’s Fighting Maroons will be led by the likes of Nina Ytang, Nica Celis, Joan Monares, and newcomers like Kianne Olango and Yesha Noceja.
They are looking to improve from an 8th place finish with their 1-13 slate last year.