Paul Jan Doloiras is embracing the challenge of leading Lyceum of the Philippines University to its first title in Season 99 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s volleyball tournament.
Doloiras, a former University of Santo Tomas (UST) libero, said he is determined to lead the Pirates to the top after being inspired by his mentor in former Lyceum head coach Emil Lontoc.
Last year, Lyceum failed to register a single win in nine games to finish 10th in the country’s oldest collegiate league.
“We’re developing. It’s a bit challenging but we’ll try to keep up since the team ended at 10th place last year,” said Doloiras, who last coached in the NCAA in 2020 with Mapua University, in an interview with Daily Tribune.
“Coach Emil is my idol and everything that I’m doing is because of him. He taught me and I want to get to his level if not surpass him.”
The Pirates opened their season with a tough 19-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-22, 11-15 loss to last year’s finalist San Beda University last Tuesday.
Team captain Jun Edang paced Lyceum with 23 points in their first game under the leadership of the 35-year-old Doloiras, who has a championship pedigree that can boost Lyceum’s rise.
In fact, he won four straight University Athletic Association of the Philippines titles for the Growling Tigers from 2008 to 2011 before taking over from Lontoc in UST’s beach volleyball program, where he won a total of 11 UAAP titles in both men’s and women’s divisions from 2016 to 2023.
Doloiras also led the Sisi Rondina-Bernadeth Pons tandem to a bronze medal in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and is now serving as an assistant coach to veteran mentor Tai Bundit for the Criss Cross King Crunchers in the Spikers’ Turf.
Doloiras said he isn’t expecting anything as his main job is to bring out the best from his players in his first year as Pirates mentor.
“For now, I want them to enjoy the moment. I’m not expecting anything and I want them to enjoy this since my players are in their first year,” Doloiras said.
“It’s all about time management. As long as you like what you’re doing and you’re happy, it’s not a problem.”
