The DLSU Lady Spikers are offering their full support for former assistant coach Benson Bocboc as the latter handles the UP Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 87.
Count on the DLSU Lady Spikers to rally behind their own even as they head to different directions in their volleyball careers, whether as a player or as a coach.
Among those developed by the La Salle program on the coaching end is UP head coach Benson Bocboc, who has since moved on to the Diliman-based team as he explored bigger opportunities as a volleyball tactician.
Facing each other for the first time since Bocboc’s exit in the UAAP, La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo beamed with pride, along with head coach Ramil de Jesus, with what Bocboc has been able to achieve so far.
[RELATED: La Salle vents ire on UP as Ramil de Jesus beats former deputy Benson Bocboc in first UAAP showdown]
“Kami naman, bilang matagal na kaming magkakasama, syempre super proud kay coach Boc since naggo-grow talaga siya,” Orcullo said.
“Yun naman na yung matagal na wini-wish ni coach Ramil kay coach Boc na magkaroon siya ng team na siya yung maghe-head coach, so super proud."
Setting emotions aside, Orcullo said that it was a good experience for them to test each other’s mettle, especially after working together for so long.
“[Business] as usual [kami], ganun din naman since it's part of our job naman na to be a coach,” he said.
“So, kami kung ano lang yung i-offer ni coach Boc samin na laban, ganun din naman kami, tatapatan lang din naman namin," he added.
As for Bocboc, the newbie head coach said that they leave it all out on the court.
Off of it, it’s still the same love all around.
“Lagi pa rin kami nagkikita eh. So wala lang, on the side, volleyball lang. Laro lang volleyball, different teams, pero volleyball pa rin,” said Bocboc, whose UP team slid to 2-2 with the loss against his former team.
“Outside, maybe we can consider [things] all the same, one family. Walang problema. Basta siyempre, I represent UP, they represent DLSU in a volleyball match,” he added.
In their first official matchup, La Salle bested their former deputy in a four-set battle.