THE 2025 PVL on Tour finals wasn’t just a breath of fresh air from a competitive standpoint.
It was also a celebration of the decades-long dynasty built by La Salle’s multi-titled champion coach Ramil de Jesus, who made a rare appearance courtside for the title game that saw PLDT outlast Chery Tiggo in a five-set championship classic.
READ: PLDT a champion at last after surviving Chery Tiggo fightback
In those two teams combined, RDJ had eight former Lady Spikers seeing action in a championship match in the pros.
PLDT had the preseason’s best middle blocker Majoy Baron, finals MVP Mika Reyes, Kianna Dy, Kim Fajardo, and yet-to-play Alleiah Malaluan, while Chery Tiggo has the trio of Ara Galang, Aby Marano, and Baby Jyne Soreno.
The High Speed Hitters’ newly-crowned champion quintet reflected on an emotional post-game moment which saw all La Salle talents from both teams flock to de Jesus and longtime deputy Noel Orcullo at the sidelines.
“Sobrang saya lang. Wala akong masabi ngayon, hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yung right words to say. Basta ang alam ko lang, masaya kaming lahat and deserve talaga namin ‘tong panalo na ‘to,” Reyes said.
“I’m super happy because coach Ramil was able to watch. And it’s also good to play against ate Ara and Aby,” KKD added.
“Every time we see him, he is not a very positive thinker eh, so to hear something positive from him is already a great achievement.”
For Baron and Fajardo, there is also a sense of indebtedness for how RDJ honed them to become champion-caliber players from college to the pros.
“Very thankful kasi yung foundation ko, sa kanila talaga galing. Hindi naman ako pumasok ng La Salle na skillful ako,” Baron said.
“Every step of the way, may natututunan ako. Even sa PLDT, marami akong na-a-add sa skills ko kaya very thankful lang ako. Every conference willing ako matuto every time at nagbubunga lahat.”
Fajardo added: “Super happy and grateful talaga na sila yung parang nag-mold sa amin. Yung talent na tinuro nila, hindi mapapalitan nang kahit ano. Hindi lang siya sa skills, eh. Lahat. Attitude, character. Lahat.”
Lessons from La Salle
They might have held the shorter end of the stick by the end of a green-blooded finals duel, but Marano and Galang couldn’t have been more grateful to have their greatest mentor back them up in their first taste of a title game as pros.
What de Jesus built wasn’t just a dynastic Lady Spikers team through years and seasons past. He also built players who could power through adversity and play with confidence and nerves of steel whatever the stakes may be.
“Sobrang grateful kasi yung character namin na merong fighting spirit, yung heart of a champion, galing sa kanya lahat yun,” Marano said.
“Kanina nag-usap nga kami na grabe yung feeling sa laro, parang 'di ko na-feel na matatalo tayo kasi dito sa finals, familiar yung feeling.
“Para magkaroon nang ganung confidence, tingin ko kasama lahat ng pinaghirapan sa kondisyon sa college years namin with him to semi-pro to now na nasa ibang teams na kami.”
Galang added: “Masaya lang talaga overall. Masaya rin naman ako na nanalo rin sila at masaya ako sa na-accomplish namin as individuals. Kaahit na magkaiba kaming teams, siyempre magkakaibigan pa rin kami, so masaya kami para sa isa’t isa.”
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