LAST season cellar-dwellers, the UST Lady Booters, look to turn things around this year by bringing in a new head coach.
Former UAAP gold medalist Prescilla Rubio, or Coach Aging, will try to steer UST back to football supremacy.
After the team had disbanded en route to the opening of the head coaching position, Rubio was among those who applied for the job left vacant by coach JR Judal.
The Dumaguete native officially assumed the position in the 2015 Philippine Football Federation Women’s Cup where they finished fourth.
“Sa isip ko nandyan na talaga na gusto ko mag-coach, hindi ko lang in-expect na ganoon kabilis,” Rubio told the Varsitarian. “Siguro nakita ‘yung capability ko to lead the team.”
Adjusting with a team that was used to a different coach and a different system, Rubio admitted she had a difficult time understanding her players.
“‘Yung ngayon kasi, gusto ng players sila nagdidictate ng flow ng training. Pero pagdating sakin, ini-insist ko ‘yung program so nagkaroon ng hindi pagkakaunawaan.”
Although the process was difficult, the new tactician said she made sure her players understood why they have to undergo tough training.
“Every time na maglalaro kami, kahit tune-up game lang ‘yan, we make sure na gagawin naming para manalo. Kasi kung sa tune-up pa lang, hindi na namin na-set sa utak namin na gusto namin manalo, paano pa kaya sa actual game,” she said.
The former UST midfielder is no stranger to coaching. She is a former head coach of the Poveda High School football team and was the head coach of the UST men’s and women’s futsal teams. She was also part of the team that won UST’s first championship in women’s football in Season 71.
