La Salle's 11-time champion coach would be a huge addition to an already formidable team.
The De La Salle Lady Spikers remained unbeaten in UAAP Season 85 Women’s Volleyball on Saturday after handing the National University Lady Bulldogs their second straight defeat in straight sets, 26-24, 26-24, 25-16, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The unbeaten Lady Spikers, quite frankly, are looking unbeatable this season. And it appears they are only getting better, especially after welcoming 11-time champion coach Ramil De Jesus back on the bench. Arguably the most decorated tactician in UAAP volleyball, De Jesus helped interim coach Noel Orcullo in leading La Salle to its eighth consecutive win—and second in a row against the defending champions.
Apparently, though, De Jesus coaching La Salle full time again is still up in the air.
“Hindi ko pa alam ‘yung magiging setup namin kung game to game or siya na talaga [full-time coach],” admitted Orcullo in the post-game press conference, after he was asked if De Jesus would be back permanently as La Salle’s head tactician. “Depende siguro sa call niya [De Jesus].
But while De Jesus returning full time would mean a demotion for Orcullo, the soft-spoken interim coach is all for it. In fact, count Orcullo as among those who are genuinely happy to have the champion mentor back in the fold.
“Sobrang ano ko, overwhelmed. Kasi nga andiyan na siya. ‘Yung lagi ko inaalala na pag maglalaro na, ‘yung duda sa sarili, kakayanin ko ba? E ngayon andiyan siya. Sobrang overwhelmed . . . ,” Orcullo told the press. “Kagabi nagbiro pa siya sa akin . . . tanungin niyo si Noel baka nag-e-enjoy pa siya. Sabi ko, coach, hindi, ikaw ang kelangan ko kaya sobrang tuwang-tuwa rin ako.”
From the looks of it, everyone in that La Salle camp is eager to have De Jesus back for good—including Orcullo.