IT’S business as usual for La Salle.
Another Final Four, another year of sustained excellence under head coach Ramil de Jesus, whose Lady Spikers extended their postseason streak to 16 straight seasons after a 10-0 start in UAAP Season 88.
READ: Still-perfect La Salle breezes past UP to book playoff ticket
But for de Jesus, there’s nothing routine about it.
Keeping a dynasty intact is a constant process, one that goes far beyond the wins piling up year after year.
At the core of it is a challenge every college program faces - but one that never gets easier no matter how decorated the system is.
“Every batch naman kasi, may mga mawawala. ‘Yun ‘yung dilemma ng mga coach eh sa college. Every four years, may nawawalang players, so may papasok tapos ite-train mo ulit,” said de Jesus.
“Kung paano mo ipapa-adapt sa kanila ‘yung sistema, ‘yun ‘yung pinakamahirap.”
Roster turnover is inevitable, but La Salle just continues to reload, with a new wave led by emerging names like Eshana Nunag already fitting into that tried-and-tested system.
Still, the challenge doesn’t stop there.
Volleyball's evolution
RDJ’s Final Four streak dates back to Season 71 in 2009, spanning nearly two decades of evolution in the sport itself.
From the days of Illa Santos and Jacq Alarca to the current core of Angel Canino and Shevana Laput, the game has changed and so has the approach needed to stay on top.
“Para sa’kin kasi, every year, nag-e-evolve ‘yung volleyball. Kailangan mong humabol sa kung anuman ‘yung meron kasi hindi pwedeng du’n ka lang at maiwan ka du’n,” he said.
“Kung hindi ka hahabol sa ganung klaseng level, maiiwan ka. ‘Yun ang para sa’kin na kailangan lang talaga na kung ito lang ‘yung materials mo, ilabas mo ‘yung talent ng mga bata.
“I-push mo sila na ‘yung talent nila, makita rin nila para lumabas din talaga. Mahirap kapag may potential ‘yung bata tapos hindi mo naman mailalabas ‘yung talent. Paghihirapan mo talaga para mailabas ‘yun at makatulong sa team.”
For de Jesus, sustaining dominance isn’t about standing still, it’s about evolving with the game while maximizing what each roster can offer.
At the same time, with another batch of players learning the ropes, patience remains key.
“Sa ngayon, inuunti-unti namin and nasa process kami para du’n sa mga bago. Katulong ko ‘yung mga seniors para ma-implement ‘yung ganung sistema at para ‘yung mga maiiwan nila, nandu’n pa rin,” he said.
“Ganu’n lang para palagi pa ring gutom sa panalo.”
Sixteen straight playoff berths later, La Salle isn’t slowing down. It’s simply adapting to stay there.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
