La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus usually keeps his cards close to his chest.
So, when asked on his take on the UAAP women’s volleyball championship between his Lady Spikers and Far Eastern University, the aloof, multititled mentor would rather talk about the Lady Tamaraws’ strengths rather than his team’s.
“I noticed the marked improvement in FEU this season,” De Jesus said in Filipino. “We need to match up with their blocking. Their floor defense is something else. And this season, they are hungry for the title.”
It is in all likelihood that De Jesus has prepared his side to counter FEU’s strengths as they clash in Game 1 at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao where the Lady Spikers are listed as the favorites to extend their reign.
De Jesus hardly acknowledged that his charges are playing in a 10th straight championship series, and that his Lady Spikers are shooting to win this event for the third consecutive year.
All he acknowledges is that Far Eastern is a very dangerous enemy, more so since the Lady Tamaraws are so motivated after losing the last time they were in the Finals, which was against La Salle back in Season 71.
De Jesus also has all the respect for George Pascua, his counterpart at FEU with whom he shared the floor with while they powered the Tamaraws to the men’s title in 1991.