Letran College rolled out the red carpet for the homecoming of multi-titled mentor Oliver Almadro as the new head coach of Lady Knights for the coming National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99.
The Intramuros-based school brought in the alumnus to help restore Letran’s volleyball program to its old glory, particularly its women’s squad which has been struggling to get back at the podium for more than a decade.
Letran athletic director Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, on Friday, 4 August, announced the appointment of Almadro as a replacement for long-time mentor Mike Inoferio.
Calvo hopes Almadro will bring the same winning culture he built in his decade-long stint with Ateneo de Manila University.
“I am happy to have one of the top minds in Philippine volleyball. The Letran volleyball program will be handled by him with a primary focus on women’s volleyball,” Calvo said.
Almadro, who saw action for Letran’s men’s team in the mid-90s, parted ways with Ateneo after a 13-year stay following the Blue Eagles’ dismal showing in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s tournament.
He was replaced by Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso last month but found a new home back where he started his colorful volleyball career.
“Because he is from Letran, he fits in well with Letran,” Calvo said.
Almadro concurrently handles the Petro Gazz in the Premier Volleyball League where he steered the Angels to a runner-up finish in the All-Filipino Conference early this year in his debut tournament.
The Lady Knights have yet to reach the Final Four since getting swept by the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the finals back in 2012.
Letran came a win short of landing a spot in the stepladder semifinals in Season 98 as it finished with a 5-4 win-loss slate. The Lady Knights last held the crown back in 1999.
Almadro saw his coaching career grow at De La Salle University, and National University before getting his much-awaited break with Ateneo.
He took the Blue Eagles coaching reins from 2013 to 2018 and was the architect of the school’s men’s three-peat from 2015 to 2017 after bringing in five-time league MVP Marck Espejo.
Almadro was then tapped to take over Ateneo’s women’s team in 2018 replacing Tai Bundit. He steered the Blue Eagles bannered by Kat Tolentino, Bea De Leon, Maddie Madayag and setter Deanna Wong to their third crown overall in Season 81 coming back from a 0-1 finals series deficit to beat University of Santo Tomas.
Ateneo finished third last year in Season 84 after the league made its return following a two-year pandemic hiatus.
