He is working behind the scenes.
The De La Salle University Lady Spikers remain unbeaten in UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball on Wednesday, and they actually looked unbeatable even against the reigning champions National University Lady Bulldogs.
It appears a lot of the credit should go to... coach Ramil de Jesus. Yes, even in his absence, the long-time La Salle coach is giving his team a huge lift—working behind the scenes to help in his own ways.
“Pati si coach [Ramil], kaninang umaga nagbigay siya ng pep talk bago kami umalis. Ayun, ang ganda ng resulta,” interim coach Noel Orcullo bared to the media post-game.
Asked what de Jesus said to the Lady Spikers that got them so fired up they beat the defending champ in straight sets, Orcullo played it coy.
“Nagpaalala lang naman siya,” Orcullo said. “Binigyan lang sila ng mga reminders na hindi tayo pwede magpa-intimidate. Ayun lang, maikli lang naman talaga sinabi niya e.”
Apparently, de Jesus has been a guiding light for La Salle right from the start of Season 85—and his efforts are not lost on the unbeaten Lady Spikers.
“Nami-miss namin siya,” bared Mars Alba. “It means a lot to us na he’s always there behind everything, and he’s the main reason why we achieved this win today.”
Fifi Sharma, one of the stars of La Salle’s straight-sets victory over NU, shares the same sentiment while also crediting Orcullo’s leadership.
“Malaking bagay kasi lagi naman nakaantabay si coach Ramil,” said Sharma. “Nakikinig lang kami lagi sa mga payo niya and 'yun nga, sa tulong rin ni coach Noel, nagagawa namin ‘yung mga pinapagawa ni coach Ramil.
Outstanding rookie Angel Canino could not agree more. In fact, she went a step further, highlighting the champion coach’s overarching impact on the Lady Spikers not only in terms of volleyball, but also in life in general.
“Sobrang laki ng impact ni coach Ramil sa buhay namin and as a team kaya kahit anong sabihin niya, sumusunod kami. Sa lahat naman ng coaches sumusunod kami,” Canino shared.
That impact is, indeed, undeniable—and a return to the sidelines might galvanize La Salle even more. But would a comeback actually happen in Season 85?
Orcullo, again, played it coy.
“Let’s wait and see na lang.”