HEAD COACH: Ramil de Jesus
LAST SEASON: 9-5 (runner-up)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: Season 87 (2024-25)
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP: Season 85 (2022-23)
CHAMPIONSHIPS: 12
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CHAMPIONSHIP gold may have come less frequently than in the past decade, but there is still no discounting the institutional force that is La Salle.
While the Lady Spikers have spent recent seasons operating in the shadow of a National U dynasty, the enduring Midas touch of champion mentor Ramil de Jesus has continued to keep the green-and-white firmly in the title conversation.
Since NU’s rise in Season 84, La Salle has quietly extended its league-best Final Four streak to 15 consecutive seasons, dating all the way back to Season 71 in 2008.
The larger picture is even more staggering: 24 Final Four appearances in 26 seasons, all under the legendary RDJ.
As for podium finishes, the Lady Spikers are riding a 23-season streak without finishing lower than third, something that has occurred just twice in that span, most recently in Season 86.
In recent years, however, the absence of a hardened veteran core and the heavy reliance on youth have taken a toll on the Taft towers' stand.
This season, while La Salle is yet again expected to lean young amid another influx of new faces, it will remain anchored on three proven leaders in Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido.
The question now is whether that decorated trio can shoulder the responsibility of steering a youthful squad back to the summit.
Fearsome threesome
If it takes two to tango, it may take at least three to win a UAAP title.
At the heart of that equation is Canino, a generational talent whose ceiling continues to rise.
A rookie-MVP-turned-champion and now-Alas Pilipinas star, the 22-year-old has been the modern cornerstone of the Lady Spikers since arriving in Season 85.
Her growth has been unmistakable, particularly after expanding her offensive arsenal during her national team stints, where she developed into a lethal, high-efficiency scorer at both wings.
Alongside her is newly installed captain Laput, a 6-foot-2 opposite whose size and power provide a devastating 1-2 punch for the Lady Spikers.
Completing the trio is Provido, whose impact belies her 5-foot-11 frame.
Her defensive instincts and timing made her one of the league’s top middle blockers last season and carried over even at the international level.
Add reigning best libero Lyka de Leon to the mix, and La Salle’s spine keeps looking formidable.
Still, titles are rarely won by three players alone — and that reality looms large for the Lady Spikers.
DLS-youth, Animo La Salle!
Following last season’s opening-day loss to the Lady Bulldogs, de Jesus pointed to the setter position as an area in need of refinement.
Then-rookie setter Mikole Reyes struggled early, prompting frequent switches with now-Nxled playmaker Jules Tolentino who was the longer-tenured setter at that time.
Elsewhere, inexperience remains the common denominator, with young faces like Shane Reterta and Lilay del Castillo expected to take on bigger roles.
But de Jesus has built champions before, molding raw talent into title contenders across decades in the UAAP and club scene.
Whether his golden touch can once again restore La Salle to finals regularity - and more importantly, winning it all - remains the defining question of Season 88.
And in his 29th year at the helm, the answer, like the result of his young Lady Spikers project, will come in due time.
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Read up on what to expect from the other teams in UAAP Season 88 here:
UE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Is there anything to look forward to for Lady Warriors?
ATENEO UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Blue Eagles remain upbeat for return to relevance
UP UAAP 88 PREVIEW: 'CAL Girls' should be undeniable for Maroons to be in the fight
ADAMSON UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Lady Falcons trust process of building around Shaina
FEU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Lady Tams got grand plans of going 30 for 30
UST UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Tigresses all-in in Shaq-ing the system
NU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Who said Lady Bulldogs golden age is over?
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