Experience met composure when it mattered most against fabled rival University of Santo Tomas, and for head coach Ramil de Jesus, that made all the difference as De La Salle University stretched its unbeaten run to nine games in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
La Salle faced a rare moment of vulnerability when the Golden Tigresses pushed the Lady Spikers to a 12-20 deficit in the third set. But instead of folding, the Lady Spikers leaned on something even more valuable than momentum: maturity.
“During the third set, rinemind ko lang yung mga bata. Sinabi ko na dahil aggressive yung kalaban, so kailangan lang na bawat situation, ilaban natin yung bawat situation. Gawan ng paraan kung medyo hindi bagay dumadating sa ini-expect nila,” De Jesus said.
“Ilaban lang hanggang sa mapanalo yung situation, and nag-work naman. Unti-unting iginapang yung score hanggang dumating sa endgame.”
Anchored by senior players Angel Canino, Amie Provido, Shevana Laput, and Lyka de Leon, the Lady Spikers unleashed a 13-3 third-set run. They flipped the match on its head, ultimately winning in four sets and inching closer to a playoff for a Final Four slot.
For the long-time La Salle tactician, the comeback was less about tactics and more about the Lady Spikers’ resolve and trust — in players who have endured multiple heartbreaks and embraced the grind amid challenges.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Ayon, dumadating sa panahon kasi itong mga players ko naman ay masasabi ko namang mga seniors. Nahinog na ito sa panahon at sa dami ng laro, yung iba, na-expose na rin sa international,” the 12-time UAAP women’s volleyball coach said.
“Sila na rin yung nagga-guide. Natuto na rin sila sa mga dating pagkakamali na ito na naman tayo sa ganitong situation na nasa pressured game na naman tayo. Siguro talaga na dapat masanay ka lang sa pressure.”
La Salle is now one win away — or waiting on an Adamson University loss to Ateneo de Manila University in a game ongoing at the time of publication — from at least a playoff for a Final Four ticket. But De Jesus was quick to note that the Lady Spikers are far from perfect despite their pristine 9-0 slate.
For him, La Salle must maintain the same resolve it showed in the comeback against UST to secure an outright Finals ticket. They must also keep healthy to stay ahead of a highly-competitive UAAP women’s volleyball field that includes National University, Far Eastern University, UST, Adamson, and University of the Philippines.
“Siguro buong first round, nakita na nila kung ano yung galaw ng team and kung sino ang mataas sa production. Minsan nga, medyo nawawalan ng kumpiyansa yung mga bata kapag na-co-control sila. Sabi ko, alam niyo naman, kapag kayo yung mataas sa production, kayo yung pag-aaralan para mapigil,” De Jesus explained.
“Kaya sabi ko, dapat huwag mawawalan ng loob. Kailangan kung may nakita ka nung first round, dapat nadala mo pa yung dapat mong gawin. Hindi puwede isang klase lang yung puwede mong gawin. Dapat mas mag-aral pa sa mga hindi nila nakikita,” he went on.
“Siguro yung hinahanap ko na lang ay yung maging healthy sila hanggang sa matapos yung eliminations. Mahirap yung hindi natin kontrolado yung situation kapag ganoon. Siguro yung mga lapses namin na kapag nag-lead kami nang mahaba tapos biglang inaabot, may mga ganoong problema yung team na dapat siguro ma-correct pa during training or even sa game. Yung panapos, medyo humihinto yung mga bata kapag malaki na masyado yung lamang.”
#WATCH: HINOG NA ‘TO SA PANAHON 🏹
Ramil de Jesus says his seniors at La Salle are already mature, but he is still looking to find their next level as #UAAPSeason88 progresses#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/PmtBqFkC5b
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/qDNDCBshvV
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 25, 2026
