Player-turned-coach Mayeth Carolino is showing that leadership in sports — and life in general — knows no gender.
As a player, Carolino led the Colegio de San Juan de Letran to a pair of NCAA Philippines women’s volleyball titles in 1997 and 1998, earning Rookie of the Year honors in the first championship run and the Most Valuable Player award the following season.
However, the Lady Knights lost to San Sebastian College-Recoletos in the finals the following year that eventually prompted Carolino to end her collegiate career.
She later donned the Philippine colors in the early 2000s, helping the national team secure three straight bronze medals from 2001 to 2005, while continuing to compete for the Philippine Army in various leagues.
But her heart always pointed back home. 27 years later, Carolino returned to a familiar ground, not as a player but as the head coach of the Lady Knights for NCAA Season 101.
"Dati pa lang, gusto ko nang tumulong sa team pero busy lang talaga ako sa Army pero nu’ng nag-retire ako, parang timing lang kasi nagkaro'n ng chance para makabalik sa Letran," Carolino told GMA News Online on Sunday.
"Ang nangyari doon, tinanong ko si Jov Gonzaga kung kilala ba niya si Boss Frank. Nag-message si Boss Frank sa akin, and wala akong hesitation kasi Letranista ako at gusto kong mag-give back sa kanila."
[Even back then, I wanted to help the team but I was busy with Army. But after I retired, it was just timing until I got the chance to come back to Letran… What happened there, I asked by Jov Gonzaga if she knew Boss Frank, Boss Frank messaged me, and I had no hesitation because I’m a Letranista and I want to give back to them.]
Carolino's homecoming, coupled with the arrival of Finnish tactician Aleksi Lahteenmaki, has already made an immediate impact on the program as the Lady Knights’ record remains immaculate.
Letran completed a rare preliminary sweep after surging to a 13-0 card in the group stage as they now head to the quarterfinals stage armed with a twice-to-beat bonus.
"Hindi namin iniisip ‘yung 13-0, one game at a time lang kami lagi. Kumbaga, parang naipon lang ‘yung panalo pero hindi namin iniisip na ma-sweep namin," she added.
[We aren’t thinking about 13-0, just one game at a time for us. The wins just stacked up but we weren’t thinking about sweeping.]
But beyond the wins, Carolino aims to inspire her players and other women who aspire to pursue a career in coaching.
Carolino said she hopes to serve as living proof that women can lead both on and off the court, a value she learned from her mentors like Odjie Mamon, Ramil de Jesus, Emil Lontoc, and the late Nes Pamilar.
"Giving ‘yung students natin and team ng opportunity to compete and mag-lead at mag-inspire," she said.
"Volleyball is not just about winning games, it’s also about showing na women can also be confident and disciplined leaders on and off the court."
[Giving our students and team the opportunity to compete and to lead and inspire…. Volleyball is not just about winning games, it’s also about showing that women can also be confident and disciplined leaders on and off the court.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
