Cellar-dwelling Fighting Maroons just keep on believing

MANILA, Philippines -- Believe.

Despite a 1-7 win-loss record in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are sticking to the positives and looking to “switch the mindset” after pushing perennial contenders National University Lady Bulldogs to a four-setter Wednesday.

After a hard-fought first set win by NU, 25-21, UP bounced back with a massive 32-30 win in the second set.

The Lady Bulldogs then seemingly woke up and took the final two sets, 25-17, 25-19, to return to the winning column.

Fighting Maroons head coach Oliver Almadro, after the game, underscored the need to switch the mentality and believe in themselves.

“I keep on telling them to believe that you’re not a pushover anymore. Believe. I always tell them to believe. That’s written on our board, believe,” he told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino.

“That is what we’re lacking, the switch in mentality. Before we win, we have to believe we will win,” he added.

In the offseason, Almadro was tapped as the new volleyball program director of UP, and was eventually named to be the women’s volleyball team head coach.

Even before the start of the season, he emphasized his goal to slowly but surely change the culture of the team that has been struggling in recent years.

“That is our number one [priority.] We need to believe and trust the process. Eventually, the results will take care of themselves,” Almadro said on Wednesday.

“As long as we keep fighting for each other, we keep ourselves and we keep on working hard,” the veteran coach added.

“It doesn’t matter, the results don’t matter. What’s important is you keep on fighting. I’m not pressuring them to win, but I encourage them to win.”

UP will be facing the 2-6 Ateneo Blue Eagles next on Sunday, 2 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.