The La Salle Lady Spikers have opened their UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball campaign in dominant fashion, staying unbeaten at 3-0 after sweeping the FEU Lady Tamaraws, UST Golden Tigresses, and UP Fighting Maroons—without dropping a single set.
For head coach Ramil de Jesus, the blistering start is a product of the team’s hard work long before the season began.
“Siguro ano, dala lang siguro nung training sa amin kasi talagang pinaghirapan namin ‘tong season na ‘to. Talagang, kahit kami mula noong off-season hanggang sa makarating nitong season,” said de Jesus.
“Sa tingin ko, mas nag-mature ‘yung mga players ko. And siguro malaking bagay na rin ‘yung nakapag-Alas sila Angel at tsaka sila Amie, tapos ma-share nila sa team ‘yung mga experiences nila dun sa international.”
A Championship in Play for La Salle
La Salle last captured the championship in Season 85, when it also started 3-0. This year, the Lady Spikers have benefited not only from the steady presence of seniors Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido, but also from the emergence of rookies Eshana Nunag and Mikee Santos.
Nunag has taken charge of orchestrating La Salle’s offense as the team’s primary setter. Meanwhile, Santos stepped up in their most recent win over UP, filling in for Laput, who was sidelined due to illness.
“Actually, ‘yun nga ‘yung maganda kasi may inabutan sila na seniors na members ng Alas. Kasi ma-meet nila o kaya mahabol nila ‘yung level kung ano ‘yung meron sa team. Mahirap kasi ‘yung wala nang seniors, so wala kang hahabulin level kung ano man ‘yung maiwan sa team,” de Jesus added.
The multi-titled mentor also had high praise for Nunag, particularly for stabilizing the team’s offense—a department that many observers considered La Salle’s weakness last season.
“Actually, noong high school, hindi ko siya masyadong napapanood. Itong dumating na siya sa amin, nag-senior high na, so ayun, hinahayaan ko lang ‘yung anak ko na mag-coach dun sa high school,” he shared.
“And then, nakikita ko naman na. Sabi ko, posible na maging main setter namin ito pagdating ng college kasi mabilis mag-set and then matapang dumipensa, at tsaka buo ang loob. ‘Yun naman ang importante.”
