‘There are no cowards in La Salle’: Lady Spikers show title pedigree in bounce back win

MANILA, Philippines—De La Salle wasn’t going to let a three-set loss to University of the Philippines stop its momentum in the UAAP Season 81 women’s volleyball tournament.

The Lady Spikers lost to the Lady Maroons, 25-16, 26-24, 25-19, on Sunday in what was one of the defending champions’ sloppiest games so far when they had more errors, 37, than attack points, 28.

With such an ugly loss, the Lady Spikers made a promise to themselves that they would bounce back and show that they’re still the reigning queens of the league.

La Salle easily dismantled National University, 25-20, 25-18, 25-10, on Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Center in a game that showed the pedigree of the 11-time champion.

“We’re in La Salle and there are no cowards in La Salle,” said rookie star Jolina Dela Cruz in Filipino. “Coach [Ramil De Jesus] always reminds us of that and we just brought that spirit.”

Dela Cruz is La Salle’s leading scorer with a total of 96 points after the game against the Lady Bulldogs but she wasn’t immune to De Jesus’ constant, and sometimes intense, lecturing.

There were several times during timeouts that De Jesus would focus directly on Dela Cruz when he was conveying a message but the rookie was unfazed with the iconic coach’s intensity.

“I just listened to him,” said Dela Cruz who had seven points against NU. “He always tells me to follow the game plan and follow his instructions so I won’t get lost on the floor.”