The burden of trying to outcoach Ramil De Jesus in the Final Four of UAAP Season 86 falls on UST mentor Kungfu Reyes, who has had great success against coach RDJ in Season 86.
A great reason behind De La Salle’s decades of success in UAAP women’s volleyball is without the a doubt the coaching of Ramil de Jesus.
He just knows how to make it work.
And so part of trying to beat DLSU is not just outplaying the mighty Lady Spikers, one also has to outcoach the great RDJ, which is certainly easier said than done.
The burden of that task for the Final Four of UAAP Season 86 falls on UST mentor Kungfu Reyes, who has had great success against coach RDJ in Season 86.
Reyes and his Golden Tigresses have beaten De La Salle twice this season, taking a twice-to-beat advantage into the Final Four. UST will have two chances to get that third win to advance to the Finals for the first time since Season 81.
However, while two wins against RDJ are nice, coach Kungfu is not one to keep track, the first two do not count without the third one anyway.
“Di ko na nabibilang kung ilan naming beses tinalo sila kasi hindi yun ang paramihan,” Reyes said.
“Ang inaano ko yung moment na makaharap ko si coach Ramil. Uulit-ulitin ko lang na player pa ako, coach Ramil na yan,” he added.
There’s a great deal of respect from coach Kungfu to coach Ramil, respect that extends to both of their teams.
The Golden Tigresses want to be where the Lady Spikers are, and it seems only fitting that for UST to have its shot at the UAAP crown, it will have to go through DLSU.
“Wala [ako] ibang nilu-look up kundi si coach Ramil, kasi ang ganda ng program. Mahirap mag-kibit balikat sa La Salle,” Reyes said.
“Mas motivated kami pag yung taas ng standard ng team, yung level ng team, way back pa hanggang ngayon. Malaking bagay samin na makaharap namin sila kisi ang dami din namin natutunan sa kanila.”
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)