Capital1's Leila Cruz and PLDT's Mika Reyes spoke about their time in DLSU under legendary coach Ramil de Jesus, as well as their road to recovery from their respective injuries.
Despite being years apart with their respective careers, Leila Cruz and Mika Reyes have found themselves navigating similar paths in the PVL.
In a recent PVL Originals episode uploaded on the league’s YouTube channel, Cruz and Reyes bared their journeys through injury recovery, while also sharing the lessons they learned from their collegiate days.
A common denominator for the two? Playing under coach Ramil de Jesus at De La Salle University. Both were also part of championship Lady Spikers squads.
Speaking to one another, both Cruz and Reyes credit De Jesus for instilling discipline and life lessons that extend far beyond the volleyball court.
“Parang isa talaga sa pinu-push ni coach na madisiplina ‘yung mga players niya parang super dami rin rules sa team kasi pagka na-realize ko paglabas mo ng college parang magagamit mo siya, eh kasi parang all you have is yourself,” Cruz said.
Reyes echoed this sentiment, drawing inspiration from former Lady Spiker and teammate Cha Cruz, who carried coach Ramil’s teachings into her corporate career.
“I think si ate Cha Cruz ginamit niya ‘yung mga natutunan niya kay coach Ramil nung hindi pa siya naglalaro ng pro. Nag-corporate siya pero sabi niya, ang laking help talaga na lumaki siya kay coach Ramil, sa buong La Salle community. Nadala niya ‘yun even after college,” Reyes recalled.
Despite being successful on the court, both players likewise faced significant challenges due to injuries, but have drawn valuable lessons from these setbacks.
Before being selected second overall in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft by the Capital1 Solar Spikers, Cruz had gone through an ACL injury which forced her to miss UAAP Season 87.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Leila Cruz hopes to repay Capital1's trust after being picked second in PVL Rookie Draft]
Reyes, on the other hand, suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined her campaign with the PLDT High Speed Hitters for the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
[ALSO READ: PVL: Mika Reyes proud of recovery progress, aims higher as PLDT nears title goal in Reinforced Conference]
Now both back in action, Cruz and Reyes carry with them the lessons from their time away from volleyball.
"At first masakit to me pero eventually natanggap ko na and baka hindi talaga ako ready and parang inisip ko nga yun I'll take my time na lang na mag-recover and baka need ko na magmove forward ganon kahit hindi ako makalaro,” said Cruz.
“Siguro ‘yung importance ng rest [‘yung natutunan ko] kasi after how many years tuloy-tuloy tayo naglalaro diba all year round naglalaro tayo,” Reyes explained.
“Importance ng self-discipline kailangan ko rin talaga prioritize and yun nga ung rest na hindi naman tayo robot talagang may times na mapapagod at mapapagod yung katawan natin,” she added.
As Cruz continues to establish herself in the PVL, and with Reyes solidififying her role as one of the league's veterans, both players embody the values they learned at La Salle and the experiences that have come their way.