De La Salle Lady Spikers win UAAP opener, De Jesus marks 300th victory

De La Salle University's Lady Spikers began their UAAP Season 86 title defense with a victory on Saturday, February 17, marking a historic night for head coach Ramil De Jesus who achieved his 300th win in the league.

Despite celebrating this milestone, De Jesus acknowledged the challenges he faces due to players opting out of collegiate play and joining professional teams instead.

He emphasized the difficulty in retaining team cohesion when key players leave, highlighting the transition issues faced by Adamson University last year.

De Jesus remains optimistic about his new star core led by reigning MVP Angel Canino, rising opposite Shevana Laput, and new captain setter Julia Coronel, aiming to maintain a disciplined and well-dressed team that excels both on and off the court.

The coach expressed hope for players ready to fill key positions left vacant by departing seniors, while acknowledging the need for his current holdovers like Canino, Thea Gagate, and Povido to gel as they aim for back-to-back titles.