The De La Salle University Lady Spikers have, so far, been impressive to start UAAP Season 79.
Despite losing three starters from last season, La Salle outclassed FEU and UST for a 2-0 start. But La Salle is still working several kinks to their game.
In their win over the Golden Tigresses, the Lady Spikers saw their 18-9 fourth seat lead evaporate as the Tigresses forced them into a close match. The Taft-based spikers still managed to close out the match but head coach Ramil De Jesus is still wary of giving up such big leads.
“May maganda din sa paghabol ng UST kasi nakita ko sa mga players ko ‘yung kapit nila and ‘yung composure kapag dumikit ang kalaban.
“Pero siyempre gusto pa rin namin na sana natapos na agad ‘yung mga ganoong set imbis na hayaan pang makahabol ‘yung kalaban,” De Jesus said.
La Salle veteran Kianna Dy, who tallied a game-high 16 points, echoed her coach’s sentiments.
“We can say na may momentum na kami since we won our first two games pero alam namin na hindi pa ‘yun ‘yung laro namin talaga. We have things to work on pa like our attacking and our finishing,” the 21-year-old lamented.
Next up for the defending champs are the UP Lady Maroons. While last season the Lady Spikers were clearly the more experienced squad, De Jesus admits that the Lady Maroons are the more intact team this time.
“Mas buo ‘yung team nila kasi isang player lang ‘yung nawala. Masasabi ko din na mas malalim ‘yung team nila kasi kahit may isa o dalawang wala, may mga nasa bench pa na ready mag-contribute,” expressed De Jesus.
And for the Lady Spikers to pull off their third win, the veterans are going to need to be consistent while getting contributions from the upstart players.
“Kami may mga bata pang player na, kumpara sa kanila, mas marami silang experience. Pero nabubuo naman na ‘yung loob nila kailangan lang ng experience pa,” the nine-time UAAP champion coach added.
