La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus in the UAAP Season 86 volleyball. –LANCE AGCAOILI
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus admitted that it’s tough to build a dynasty with the current trend of the UAAP players forgoing their remaining playing years to turn professional in the PVL.
La Salle lost several key players after Finals MVP and Best Setter Mars Alba and Jolina Dela Cruz graduated, followed by the departure of Fifi Sharma and Justine Jazareno, who bid farewell to the Lady Spikers and join the Akari Chargers in the pros.
“It’s really hard now because we don’t know how long the players will stay. One day you’re training them then tomorrow, you have no idea whether they’re staying or not,” De Jesus, who steered La Salle to its 12th title last season, ending a five-year title drought, said in Filipino.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball first round
“The transition has been very hard, because you have no idea how long a player stays with you. And it’s no surprise that commercial teams eye players from the defending champions because they want someone who can help their teams.”
De Jesus, who is coaching in his 27th year for La Salle, though, remains patient with his team’s progress with setter and captain Julia Coronel, middle blocker Amie Provido, and libero Lyka De Leon embracing bigger roles.
Amie Provido and the La Salle Lady Spikers in the UAAP volleyball. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“Em said the transition has been hard and that’s true. It’s hard to replace the position of middle [blocker],” De Jesus said. “[Some players] were here since senior high, we’ve trained them for a while and polished [their game], but they leave by the time we need them. It’s hard for us coaches.”
Good thing for De Jesus and his coaching staff, Provido and the rest of the Lady Spikers are willing to step up.
“It’s a good thing there are new players to train to fill the positions,” the veteran coach said. “Right now, we have players who are ready to play and fill the gaps in our line up.”
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Provido, who scored eight points in her first major role for the Lady Spikers, is willing to help embrace the challenge, helping Thea Gagate in manning the frontline.
“Every game, my mindset is to deliver knowing we lost a lot of players and it’s not easy to replace my spot. I’m happy I’m able to deliver and I’m able to gain my confidence bit by bit,” she said.
Even in the era of the collegiate players jumping to the pros, De Jesus is trying his best to adapt to the changes as the PVL will finally hold a rookie draft in June to avoid direct hires.