De La Salle University opened its UAAP campaign with three straight wins for the first time since Season 85, when the Lady Spikers went all the way to the championship.
In this Season 88 collegiate women’s volleyball tournament, La Salle has started 3-0 in dominant fashion, not dropping a single set to its opponents.
The Lady Spikers’ opposition was no pushover, yet La Salle made it look easy. The teams they defeated included last year’s Final Four squads — the FEU Lady Tamaraws and the UST Golden Tigresses — as well as a 2-0 UP Fighting Maroons side.
Still, La Salle swept them all.
Head coach Ramil de Jesus credited the team’s hot start to their intense preparation, which focused solely on themselves since they did not join any preseason tournaments.
“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 on Wednesday after their 25-12, 25-15, 25-19 win over UP.
“So tingin ko, mas nag-mature yung mga players ko. And siguro malaking bagay na rin yung nakapag-Alas sila Angel (Canino) at tsaka sila Amie (Provido), tapos ma-share nila sa team yung mga experiences nila dun sa international.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The performances of senior players Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido were expected, but what impressed De Jesus more were his rookies, Eshana Nunag and Mikee Santos.
Nunag proved a steady playmaker during their 3-0 start, while Santos stood out against UP, filling in for Laput, who was under the weather.
“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,” said De Jesus.
Setting had been a major concern for the Lady Spikers last season, despite making it to the Finals before falling to the NU Lady Bulldogs.
But De Jesus has seen Nunag’s potential since her senior high school days, and it is now showing in the UAAP.
“Actually, noong high school, hindi ko siya masyadong napapanood eh. 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,” shared De Jesus.
“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.”
#WATCH: RESPECTING THE RIVALRY 🏹
Ramil de Jesus urges La Salle not to take archrival Ateneo lightly 🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/noHdA0ikip
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/Rp2AricdJZ
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 25, 2026
