La Salle Lady Spikers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The tough straight-set victory to open the UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament last week hasn’t calmed the nerves of La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus.
The Lady Spikers are still a shadow of the team that ruled the league last year—at least in the eyes of their multi-titled mentor.
“We’re still building the team,” said De Jesus, whose Lady Spikers shoot for their second straight win against University of Santo Tomas Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
“The players are still getting used to their roles. They have yet to realize what they can do as players and as a team.”
La Salle, which lost six key players from last year’s championship team, kicked off its title retention bid with a 29-27, 25-22, 25-23 win over Far Eastern U last Sunday with fourth-year players Majoy Baron and Kianna Dy.
De Jesus said the onus will be on the rest of the squad to step up following the departure of stars, like Ara Galang, Mika Reyes and Cyd Demecillo.
“Players come and go,” De Jesus said. “You can’t find the same players from last season. All you can do is work harder and make do with what you have.”
The Golden Tigresses are aching to bounce back from a 20-25, 21-25, 22-25 defeat to Ateneo last Saturday. UST coach Kungfu Reyes hopes EJ Laure and Cherry Rondina get enough support as they target an upset against the Lady Spikers.
University of the Philippines, one of the favorites this season, battles University of the East at 2 p.m.
The Lady Maroons made light work of the Adamson Lady Falcons, 25-18, 25-11, 25-18 last Sunday.