Watch the De La Salle University Lady Spikers’ matches from the 2000s and you’ll see a very strict, militaristic Ramil De Jesus leading his team. He used to be a man of few words who was unafraid to vent his ire on his student-athletes during timeouts.
Now, on-lookers have observed a much different Ramil De Jesus. After winning his 11th title on Wednesday night, De Jesus opened the press conference with a joke.
“Hindi ko mami-miss ‘yung mga ‘to,” De Jesus said, laughing at his three graduating seniors Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron, and Kianna Dy.
From having a strict haircut policy, De Jesus literally and figuratively has let his players wear their hair down.
De Jesus’ lead assistant coach Noel Orcullo recalls former Lady Spikers coming up to him and asking why he has seemingly mellowed down.
“Malaki pinagbago ni coach Ramil.
“Sa 11 years kaming magkasama, pumasok pa lang ‘yan sa gym, ‘di mo nakikitang tumatawa. So, ‘yung past Lady Spikers na bumabalik sa amin, nagugulat sa amin. Bakit daw ang bait namin,” Orcullo told Tiebreaker Times.
“Pero nandoon pa rin ‘yung disiplina. Sa labas, para kaming pamilya. ‘Yung mga bata, parang mga anak namin. Dumadating talaga ‘yung panahon na kailangan mag-adjust,” De Jesus’ trusted confidante added.
De Jesus laughed when he was asked about his newfound chillness. In a sense, De Jesus, after 20 years of unprecedented success, has found time to breathe a sigh of relief.
The Lady Spikers’ program not only guides its players to winning volleyball games, but also pushes them to excel in the class room.
“Well pagka kasi ‘yung tipong nag-start ka pa lang mag-coach, meron kang gustong patunayan sa sarili mo, then gusto mong baguhin ‘yung sistema ng team, siguro doon magiging mahigpit ka. Kasi may binabago ka eh.
“Kasi ako, andito na eh. ‘Yung gusto ko sa team, andito na. Lahat halos ng gusto ko, na dream ko sa team, nakikita ko na nangyayari. Like ‘yung mga players ko, nag-aaral,” he emphasized, adding that most of his current roster has made the Dean’s List.
“Hindi sa pagyayabang, 12 ‘yung Dean’s List ngayon sa players ko. Yung iba nagma-Masters. Nakakatuwa kasi ‘yung iba, graduate na, nagi-stay para sa team.
“Siguro tanaw na lang ng utang na loob. Well kung ano ‘yung sabihin sa mga ito, ginagawa naman, hindi naman nagpapabaya. Magagalit ka lang kung halimbawa, ‘yung mga players mo, pasaway eh. Kasi puro lang laro, hindi na nag-aaral. O kaya puro aral, ayaw naman mag-laro. So ganoon lang. Eh nage-excel sa academics, nage-excel sa paglalaro. So kaya siguro ganito na ang ugali ko,” he quipped with pride.
