The Lady Spikers may be physically apart from their long-time women’s volleyball head tactician Ramil De Jesus, but his brief pep talk was enough to boost De La Salle’s confidence in its first encounter of the season with Season 84 tormentor National University. The Lady Spikers finally ended their head-to-head misery over the Lady Bulldogs in a convincing 25-10, 25-15, 25-21 sweep last March 22, their first win over them since Season 81 in March 2019. After his 25 seasons in the UAAP, De Jesus has indefinitely let then assistant coach Noel Orcullo take the coaching reign in his place. The 11-time champion coach, though, remains in close contact with the team as he recovers from an undisclosed medical concern — and a brief pep talk before the big game did wonders.

*La Salle's intermin head coach Noel Orcullo and Jolina Dela Cruz. (UAAP Media)

*

“Pati nga si coach [Ramil de Jesus], nagbigay siya ng pep talk bago kami umalis. So, ‘yon ganda ng resulta,” said interim head coach Orcullo. “Nagpaalala lang naman siya. Binigyan lang sila [players] ng mga reminders na hindi tayo pwedeng magpa-intimidate. Maikli lang naman ‘yong sinabi niya brief lang talaga.” For middle blocker Fifi Sharma who’s been on a roll for two consecutive games for La Salle including a breakthrough defensive game against Adamson prior, the win was dedicated to the veteran coach.

“Siyempre it’s always meaningful when coach Ramil gives us advice before the game. Siyempre nami-miss namin siya of course so 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,” said Sharma who also tallied 12 points behind rookie Angel Canino’s 14. Even after missing one of its key players and the team’s leading scorer from last season Alleiah Malaluan due to a knee injury, La Salle looked primed as ever after sweeping the first round for a perfect 7-0 card. Malaluan is expected to see some time in the second round but the team insisted there's no rush in her full return. On a possible De Jesus sighting with the team, Orcullo also kept it short and simple: "Let's see and wait rin." After the big win however, Orcullo and the Lady Spikers refused to be swept up by emotions, adding that a championship title is their ultimate goal. “We still have to focus on our singular goal which is to get the championship this season. So, wag masyadong i-sensationalize iyong mga wins because there are many other games that we have to go through in order to get to what we need to achieve. So, one game at a time. Everybody knows, all my teammates know that. I’m confident how we’re gonna handle the pressure. I don't even feel like other people are gonna feel pressure. We’re confident,” adder Sharma. But a revenge-seeking NU awaits La Salle as they meet in the second round eliminations on Saturday, March 25, at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.