Last Sunday marked a momentous occasion for Nxled's head coach, Taka Minowa, as he led his team to their debut in the Premier Volleyball League.
With a wide grin on his face, it might seem like a day filled with sunshine and butterflies, but for the Japanese head coach, it was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Minowa, a former assistant coach for Ageo Medics, confessed that he felt the weight of nervousness as soon as he awoke on the day of the Chameleons' first match against Gerflor in the Second All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
"Today I woke up, that’s the time I already had a lot of pressure. Even throughout the week, I haven't been getting enough sleep because of the pressure," shared the husband of Filipina spiker Jaja Santiago.
Despite the nerves, Minowa emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.
"But I'm trying to bring a smile because I always tell the players, don't forget to smile. But my body is kinda shaking. I'm so excited to coach here. Even though my English is not perfect, they are trying to understand," he added.
Minowa's PVL debut turned out to be a success as Nxled defeated Gerflor in straight sets, with scores of 25-18, 25-14, and 25-19. This victory marked a promising start to the season-ending conference.
The Chameleons relied heavily on the talents of Lycha Ebon and Jho Maraguinot, who contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively. Krisch Macaslang and May Luna added seven points each, contributing to the team's impressive win.
Despite the decent performance from his newly-formed squad, Minowa remains unsatisfied, believing that there is more potential to unlock from his team. Nonetheless, he is content with the progress he has witnessed.
"Today we won 3-0, but our performance is not yet at its best, especially after our tune-up matches leading up to this competition. In practice, they have always done well," said the 32-year-old Japan women’s national volleyball team assistant coach.
"In the tune-ups, their performance wasn't good. That was our problem before. But today, it's still not perfect, but it's getting better. We need to adjust and prepare. Maybe next time, we will be even more successful."
As Coach Minowa continues to lead Nxled in the PVL, his journey is just beginning, promising more excitement, hard work, and growth for his team.
