Perpetually successful in the UAAP, head coach Ramil de Jesus heads into his 21st Finals with the DLSU Lady Spikers.
The winning tradition continues for Ramil de Jesus and the DLSU Lady Spikers after they successfully banished Season 86 Final Four tormentor UST Golden Tigresses in the Season 87 version of the semis Saturday at the Big Dome.
Headed into their 21st Finals series, there has not been a more consistent program in UAAP women’s volleyball than coach RDJ's Taft-based Lady Spikers.
Players have come and gone, but de Jesus remains the constant in all those years of success for the Lady Spikers.
His program has turned into 12 UAAP titles for De La Salle, and now with a chance to make it 13 in their latest series against the NU Lady Bulldogs, the decorated tactician shared what makes his program different.
“Siguro, hard work lang yun kasi ito naman yung passion mo as a coach,” de Jesus said after their four-set win over UST.
“Yung maturuan mo yung mga bata, madala mo sa kung ano, at mailabas mo yung talent nila. So, once na madala mo dun sa Finals yung mga bata, parang ang laki mong fulfillment yun para sa coach.”
[READ: Angel Canino, La Salle repeat over UST to forge UAAP Finals clash with NU]
Despite being one of the more stern mentors in volleyball, de Jesus also has a soft spot for his players, especially in amped up moments in matches where he gives a player a high five or a fist bump of approval.
With nothing left to prove in his career as a volleyball coach, de Jesus now focuses on helping his players achieve what they want in volleyball and, at the end of the day, for La Salle to leave a lasting legacy in the Lady Spikers’ life beyond the UAAP.
“Isa yun sa siguro, na yun yung na-motivate sa akin para, at least, maibigay mo [yung effort mo], maituro sa kanila yung dapat nilang matutunan and then, madala mo rin sila sa Finals,” he said.
Of course, a Finals appearance and a championship are two vastly different achievements, and with defending champion NU standing in their way, de Jesus is committed to do whatever it takes to prepare his team to challenge Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and the rest of the mighty Lady Bulldogs.
“Kilala naman natin yung NU. Talagag since high school, magkakasama na yung mga yan. And then, talagang sobrang lalim nung experience nila sa isa't isa,” said de Jesus.
“So, siguro sa amin, ano talagang paghandaan lang namin. And then, marami pa akong dapat i-ayos sa team, eh. So, kanina, kaya I'm medyo happy kasi marami pa akong gustong makita na hindi ko nakita. So, siguro, kung mailalabas nila yung in-expect ko sa kanila, and makasabay kami, and magkaroon ng chance [kami against NU] — at malaki ‘yung chance.”