After De La Salle University’s UAAP Season 85 triumph, the Lady Spikers have struggled to find a playmaker who could fully stabilize their system.
In Julia Coronel’s final year with La Salle, the Lady Spikers were on a roll heading into the second round before Angel Canino suffered an injury. La Salle was never able to fully regain its rhythm, eventually settling for the silver medal.
Last season, the playmaking duties fell on the young shoulders of Mikole Reyes. However, La Salle still could not find consistency, resulting in another silver finish.
This season, another rookie stepped into the role in Shan Nunag, who had to learn on the fly.
“Siguro po this season, marami po akong natutunan,” recalled Nunag. “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.
“And 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.”
Central to Nunag’s rapid ascent at this critical stage of her career has been her consistent willingness to learn. Playing under a mentor as legendary as Ramil De Jesus is a rare privilege — one that few athletes experience, and even fewer manage to navigate successfully.
Rather than feeling discouraged by tough feedback, she has embraced it constructively. Her transition to the championship stage was also eased by her long-standing familiarity with the system, having been part of De Jesus’ vaunted program since her high school years.
“Siguro rin po, talagang tutok na tutok din po ako kay coach kapag training,” said the setter from Angeles, Pampanga, who delivered 19 excellent sets in Game 1 and 17 in Game 2. “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.”
Perhaps, amid the championship celebrations, the ultimate validation of Nunag’s rise came from De Jesus himself.
Returning the crown to Taft after a two-season absence is a major achievement for La Salle. While the veteran mentor is notoriously difficult to satisfy, he is more than willing to offer praise when earned — and a perfect 16-0 campaign provided the strongest justification.
“Siguro Season 87, ito yung missing link ng team. So dumating na. May ilang bagay lang akong kino-correct sa kanya para maging polido yung galaw,” said De Jesus, who then joked: “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.”
