Orcullo's wish for the upcoming season: an injury-free tournament.
Legendary volleyball coach Ramil de Jesus will not be starting UAAP Season 85 with the La Salle Lady Spikers, but his influence will still be very much felt in the tournament.
His longtime assistant, Noel Orcullo, will be calling the shots in the meantime.
"Medyo nagpahinga si Coach Ramil," Orcullo said during the UAAP Season 85 volleyball tournament press conference on Wednesday. "Actually, may guidance pa rin naman ni Coach Ramil 'pag nagte-training kami."
"Naka-guide [siya] sa amin. 'Yung program, ina-apply pa rin namin. Siya nagdedesisyon."
Orcullo though told reporters that the 11-time UAAP champion might return for the second round.
The assistant's interim promotion to head coach, nonetheless, may signal the start of De Jesus' coaching tree. Orcullo has led the La Salle Lady Spikers to a silver medal finish in the 2022 Shakey's Super League and De Jesus' former ward Regina Diego—a winning tactician with the National University Lady Bullpups herself—is now calling the shots for the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the pros.
For Orcullo, the important thing for the Lady Spikers is to stay healthy and not to get sidetracked.
"Ini-instill din namin sa mga bata na 'wag maalis 'yung focus sa goal namin," he said. "Ang main kalaban naman ng team ay 'yung sarili eh. Kailangan din lagpasan kung ano 'yung meron sa amin."
"Hopefully injury-free ang Season 85," he added.
La Salle finished the Season 84 preliminaries as the second seed with a 10-4 record. They fell to National University in the finals in the best-of-three series. This was also their fate during the Shakey's Super League.
But the Lady Spikers will hope to change their fate this Season 85 with team captain Marionne Alba, scoring machine Alleiah Malaluan, super libero Ylizyeth Justine Jazareno, and reigning First Best Middle Blocker Thea Gagate.
"Ngayon mas grabe yung hugot namin. Of course we want to make bawi and makapanalo sa teams na 'di pa namin natalo," Gagate told the UAAP Varsity Channel.
Gagate is also asking the community's support as the season kicks off this February 25, "I hope andito pa rin kayo lahat to support us through ups and downs."
La Salle will start its campaign on February 26, as the runner-ups face fourth place UST at 2 PM.