Louie Ramirez has come a long way in many aspects of his rising career, winning multiple titles with University of Perpetual Help while also having the chance to share the spotlight as one of the country's brightest collegiate players in this generation.

Not bad for a former bench player who had his humble beginnings in Pangasinan and was a standout in Palarong Pambansa six years ago.

The 24-year-old outside hitter couldn't help but reminisce about his journey as he expressed how grateful he is for accepting an offer from the Altas management which was a turning point of his promising career.

Ramirez, a native of Dasol, Pangasinan, said that Perpetual gave him the opportunity to hone his skills and also provided him with everything he needed since his early years with the team.

“Unang-una, sobrang laking pasasalamat ko kasi simula pumunta ako ng Perpetual, simula nung umalis ako sa amin, is pino-provide nila lahat ng pangangailangan ko as a student-athlete,” said Ramirez before receiving the first-ever NCAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year plum in the Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Annual Awards Night presented by San Miguel Corp. on Monday, June 17, at the Discovery Suites Manila in Ortigas, Pasig.

“Sa school kasi libre naman lahat. So, um, kumbaga yung pansariling kagustuhan ko na lang kung anuman yung kailangan ko, pero yun nga, all throughout, nakasuporta sila,” he added.

Looking back, Ramirez did not expect to grow further as he mentioned that he only had limited time to play for his home province and started playing volleyball late, specifically when he was Grade 11.

But that did not hinder Ramirez’s dreams, with veteran coach Sammy Acaylar knowing the young spiker had so much potential to become one of the best.

Despite facing a bunch of offers from other schools, Ramirez stressed that one of the factors he opted to suit up for the Altas was because of Acaylar who went up to him personally to ask for his service.

“Siguro, unang-una yung nag-recruit is si Coach Sammy (Acaylar) mismo. Siya mismo yung lumapit sa akin,” Ramirez said.

“Unlike sa other school na parang may recruiter sila na lumalapit. Hindi yung mismong head coach or kung sino man yung lumalapit. Yan. Siguro doon na ako na-entertain ng pumunta sya sa akin,” he added.

That's where it all started, and it paved the way for Perpetual's dominance in the NCAA.

The Altas recently notched their fourth consecutive and 14th overall championship in the grand old league while Ramirez bagged his second straight season MVP award and third NCAA title – a fitting end to his stellar collegiate career for the Las Piñas-based squad.

Ramirez also had a brief message for the upcoming Perpetual spikers, hoping they will continue what their seniors had started in the previous years.

“Tsaka ‘yon lang siguro, ipagpatuloy nila yung legacy na naumpisahan ng mga seniors na pinagpatuloy namin hanggang sa ipagpatuloy din nila. So yun, sumunod lang sila palagi,” Ramirez concluded, as he eyes a big jump to the professional ranks.