The La Salle Lady Spikers spent the last two UAAP seasons searching for stability at the setter position. That came courtesy of a rookie: Shan Nunag.
In Season 86, the Lady Spikers looked poised for another title run behind veteran playmaker Julia Coronel before an injury to Angel Canino disrupted their rhythm, eventually leading to a runner-up finish. A year later, young setter Mikole Reyes took over, but La Salle again settled for silver.
Enter Shan Nunag.
Nunag stepped into the starting role and helped orchestrate La Salle’s dominant 16-0 championship run in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, culminating in a Finals sweep of the NU Lady Bulldogs.
“Siguro po this season, marami po akong natutunan,” Nunag shared. “First UAAP ko po, and from the other teams, marami pa po akong madadala sa next season ko po. And dahil po sa tulong ng mga ates ko, kaya po nakaabot kami dito—lahat po talaga kami naghirap, hindi lang po ako. Ang laki po ng na-improve nilang lahat compared sa past seasons po. Thank you din po sa support nila and sa guidance din po nila.”
Shan Nunag: Steady, Steely, Unperturbed by Pressure
The rookie playmaker from Angeles, Pampanga, quickly became a steady presence in La Salle’s system, tallying 19 excellent sets in Game 1 of the Finals before adding 17 more in the clincher.
Her growth, however, did not happen overnight.
Shan Nunag credited years of immersion in La Salle’s system dating back to senior high school, along with the demanding mentorship of veteran coach Ramil De Jesus, for preparing her for the collegiate stage.
“Siguro rin po, talagang tutok na tutok din po ako kay coach kapag training,” she said. “Marami rin pong kinu-correct, and siguro nandoon din po ‘yung willingness ko na tanggapin lang nang tanggapin ‘yung mga kailangan ko pa pong ayusin para makatulong din po sa team. And also, siguro naging tulong din po yung senior high ko po dito—na tinuruan na po ako since Grade 11—and pagdating po sa college, pagdating sa first year, nandoon na rin po ‘yung sistema.”
RJD Lauds Shan Nunag
For La Salle’s legendary head coach Ramil de Jesus, Nunag ultimately became the key piece La Salle lacked in its previous two Finals runs.
“Siguro Season 87, ito ‘yung missing link ng team. So dumating na. May ilang bagay lang akong kino-correct sa kanya para maging pulido yung galaw,” said de Jesus. “Lagi kaming nag-aaway sa training—inaaway ko pala siya sa training. “Pero good thing naman, unti-unti naman niya nakukuha. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, ‘Ito ay para mas ma-polish ‘yung galaw para, at least, kahit beterano ‘yung kalaban, hindi ka naman madadaig.’ Happy ako kasi rookie siya at nadala niya ‘yung team sa championship.”
What’s scary is that La Salle’s core is returning for Season 89. Shan Nunag might be even better then.
