IT WAS pure hard work the reason why the Lady Spikers of De La Salle reclaimed the lost glory in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball.
Runner-up in the previous two seasons, La Salle used those heartbreaks as motivations when Season 78 began and Head Coach Ramil de Jesus knew his team was ripe for another title run this year.
And on Saturday, in front of more than 22,000 fans who filled the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the winner-take-all Game Three, the Lady Spikers proved they wanted it more against archrival and defending champion Ateneo de Manila.
The sacrifices and dedication that the Lady Spikers poured in during training finally paid off as La Salle hoisted their ninth UAAP women’s volleyball crown.
“Very proud ako sa kanila kasi nakita nila kung gaano kasakit matalo lalo na noong Season 77,” said de Jesus minutes after their 19-25 , 25-21, 25-16, 25-26 victory against the Lady Eagles.
“Nag-start kami ng training whole year pinaghandaan talaga nila, nakatatak sa puso at isip nila ‘yung dapat nilang gawin so itong year na ‘to talagang hindi sila magpapatalo.”
The Lady Spikers were so dominant in Game One and swept their rivals, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21, to take a 1-0 series lead but Ateneo clawed back from two sets down in Game Two and forced a rubbermatch with a come-back, 18-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-16 win.
Entering Game Three, de Jesus was confident that his wards will be wiser and more mature the reason they came out as winners.
“Noong Game Two nakita namin kung ano ‘yung problema kaya sinabi ko kailangan natin matuto doon at least nakasunod sa game plan ‘yung mga bata,” he said. “Sabi ko sa kanila nung natalo sa Game Two, hindi naman natatapos ang importante nakauna kami ng Game One so good news may Game Three.”
The crown was the sweetest not only for de Jesus but also for the players especially on graduating Ara Galang, who failed to help her team in Season 77 finals after suffering a season-ending injury in the Final Four round against National University.
“Mas naging matibay kami at marami kaming natutunan na lessons sa past seasons,” Galang said. “Naniniwala kasi ako na everything happens for a reason. Siguro ito ’yung destiny namin ngayon na kami naman ang maging champion this season ‘yung mga past season naman, nangyari na at alam namin natapos na ‘yun so ’yung importante sa amin is ’yung ngayon.”
And what a way to end her collegiate career was to bring back the crown to Taft.
“Ginawa kong motivation ‘yung injury para umangat ako. Sa start ginawa kong motivation then afterward kinalimutan ko na ‘yung nangyari dati para hindi na ko maapektuhan,” Galang said. “And yes na-complete ko na ‘yung unfinished business kasi na-meet na namin ‘yung goal namin and last ko na ‘yun so alam kong maayos ’yung iniwan ko sa team.”
De Jesus admitted that Season 78 was toughest for him but also the sweetest.
La Salle had a rollercoaster season. Losing to NU and University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the first round of the elimination and finished No. 2 behind Ateneo. The Lady Spikers were also in the brink of a meltdown after blowing their twice-to-beat edge to Far Eastern University (FEU) in the Final Four stage but managed to hand on to enter the finals and meet Ateneo for the fifth straight time.
Aside from Galang, La Salle will be losing Mika Reyes, Cyd Demecillo, Kim Esperanza and Carol Cerveza next season but the thrilling final saw the emergence of a new La Salle star in Kim Kianna Dy, who was named the Finals Most Valuable Player.
Best Setter Kim Fajardo, Best Blocker Majoy Baron and Best Digger and Best Receiver Dawn Macandili are returning for La Salle next season.
Image credits: ROY DOMINGO