La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
De La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus said his Lady Spikers’ second straight loss to archrival Ateneo is a huge blow their confidence coming into the Final Four.
“I think it really hit our confidence, that’s where we’ve been hit the hardest,” said De Jesus after the 12-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19 loss at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: Ateneo claims top spot, repeats over La Salle
La Salle was also subject to an Ateneo shocker early in the season when the Lady Eagles swooped on them in four sets, 26-24, 26-24, 21-25, 25-17.
De Jesus added they still have to fix their tendency to let their guard down after winning the first set.
“That’s one thing we have to learn as a team. Yes, we know that we took one set but it’s not as if the opponent will just submit,” said De Jesus, whose team finished the eliminations with an 11-3 card behind the top seeded Lady Eagles who has a 12-2 record.
READ: Ateneo shocks La Salle to finish first round at no. 1
Still, De Jesus said the “real fight” starts in the semifinals.
“The important games are in the semifinals, that’s where the real fight starts, not in the eliminations,” said De Jesus. “Today’s game was just to determine the seeding of the teams.”
“Come Final Four, that’s where the fun starts.”