Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
De La Salle suffered its second loss in three games in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament, and head coach Ramil De Jesus had every reason to be furious.
The Lady Spikers lost in four sets to Adamson University, 25-18, 15-25, 25-19, 25-22, in a display the 10-time champion coach found appalling.
“When you wear that La Salle jersey you have to play befitting of La Salle,” said De Jesus in Filipino Saturday at Filoil Flying V Centre. “I told them ‘you played like you’re in an inter-barangay league. You belong to the barangay level, not in the UAAP.’”
The last time La Salle suffered two losses in three games was back in Season 70 when the Lady Spikers forfeited 11 straight matches after Jacq Alarca continued to play despite her school’s approval of her leave of absence.
And that was a UAAP ruling, and not a result of playing and executing the Xs and Os on the padded floor.
La Salle’s loss to National University ended in five sets, 26-24, 19-25, 22-25, 25-17, 16-14, and De Jesus felt the shock was still in his players’ minds.
“I have to admit I got emotional in the locker room and that’s the first time they saw me that way,” said De Jesus, whose team slipped to 4-2. “They talked with each other and, hopefully, they’ve figured things out. They have to adjust their character as players because they’re the ones who are together on the floor.”
In terms of offensive numbers, there weren’t glaring disparities between the two teams, Adamson had a 63-57 edge in all three categories combined, but it was in the passing game that the Lady Falcons had the Lady Spikers beat.
Fhen Emnas had all 43 of Adamson’s excellent sets and La Salle mustered just 32 as a whole team with setter Michelle Cobb taking responsibility for 29 of it.
“We have to address an issue within our team, if there is one, because the skills are already there,” said De Jesus.