Feb. 28, 2015, 4:18 p.m. – ODJIE Mamon is counting the
days before he officially leaves as head coach of the UST Golden Tigresses.
Citing better opportunities and incompatibility with the
Tigresses, Mamon is set to depart on March 31 ending his four-year stint with
the team.
Mamon said he hadtold his players about his decision not to
return next year right after their heartbreaking five-set loss to the FEU Lady
Tamaraws last Feb. 25.
“I did not step down. I just informed them that it’s our
last game together [vs. FEU] kasi I will not renew my appointment,” he told the
Varsitarian. “We’re really not compatible, hindi ako compatible sa women’s.”
In his tenure with the Tigresses, Mamon led the team to a
third-place finish in Season 74, but they failed to return to the Final Four
since then.
He also guided the team to a runner-up finish in Season 9 of
the Shakey’s V-League, a championship in the 2013 Unigames and a third place
finish in the V-League Season 10.
Mamon admitted he was being offered to coach two volleyball
clubs including the PLDT Home Telpad-Air Force Turbo Boosters in the Philippine
Super Liga, but was yet to sign any contract.
The former middle blocker and three-time UAAP champion also
clarified that his dual coaching load with the UST men’s and women’s team,
together with his commitment to the men’s national team, had nothing to do with
his decision. He noted that other professional coaches handle more teams than
he does.
With his post up for grabs, Mamon recommended UST in-house
coaches to take over as the new mentor of the Tigresses, particularly
multi-titled girls’ volleyball team head coach Emilio Reyes Jr.
“Kung ako ang masusunod, ‘yung mga nandito na, meaning yung
mga nasa juniors. Kahit sino doon sa dalawa. Pero siyempre maganda kung si Kung
Fu (Reyes),” Mamon added.
Reyes, who developed numerous volleyball stars like Alyssa
Valdez, Dindin Santiago and EJ Laure, declined to comment as the UST
administration is yet to make an official announcement
Mamon will remain as the helm of the Tiger Spikers and the
men’s national team. Sports Team
