After first win as women's team coach, is Coach O gunning for a 3-peat?

Winning is not necessarily new for Ateneo head coach Oliver Almadro.

Back in 2015-2017, he led the Ateneo men's volleyball team to a three-peat, with players such as Marck Espejo and Rex Intal.

With another feather in his cap with the Ateneo Lady Eagles' winning the UAAP Season 81 women's volleyball finals on Saturday, Almadro, or notably known as "Coach O", joins the elite club of tacticians who handled champion teams in both the men's and women's division.

READ: Ateneo swoops down on UST to claim UAAP 81 women’s volleyball title

What's the difference for him now?

"Masarap 'yung sa men's kasi 3-peat 'yun," Coach O narrated. "Masarap din 'yung sa women's kasi parang drama eh," he added.

"Pagka sumakay ka talaga sa drama, malulunod ka eh. We managed it. We agreed to manage it. We agreed to take part sa drama but we have to manage it," Coach O said.

Coach O hugs one of the Ateneo Lady Eagles players after the team's victory over the UST Golden Tigresses on Saturday, winning the championship in women's volleyball of UAAP Season 81. Zeke Alonzo

In the post-game press conference, Almadro also credited his predecessors, Coach Roger Gorayeb and Coach Tai Bundit in building Ateneo's legacy in women's volleyball.

"This one started kina Coach Roger, Coach Tai. Coach Roger, thank you for starting it. Coach Tai, thank you for bringing this ganito sa Ateneo. Minana ko. They're part of this," he said.

For Almadro, coaching the Ateneo's women's team and winning the title is part of God's plan for him.

"I almost quit coaching before but I believed in God's plan. Pagka saan ka dinala ni Lord, you just have to pray and ask. The higher purpose 'yung inspiration ko dito sa pagiging champion," he said.

But for him, being a champion coach does not mean resting on his laurels.

"Mai-inspire pa ako to do more. 'Di naman dahil champion e titigil ka na sa pag-aaral. In fact, 'pag nag-champion ka, magiging barometer ka, so kailangan mo to do more and be better than your best para umangat pa lalo," Coach O shared.

Will this championship be the start of another 3-peat, just like what he did with the men's team?

"Mahirap sabihin right away 'yan. We have to be better than our best, aim on what is above, and believe in God's plan. Our main weapon is faith, courage, and trust in each other," he said.

Aside from being better, Coach O emphasized that faith in the Lord is their main weapon. "We will work hard with our skills. We will study more, but our main weapon is the faith and will ni Lord."

For him, being on top is just the start of his journey. "Now nasa number 1 ka. Ikaw [ang] target. We need to do more and 'wag tumigil dito," Coach O added. —KG, GMA News