10th straight semis is nice, but the Lady Spikers have a much better streak that they want to sustain.

The Lady Spikers are in the semis. So what’s new?

With their dominating straight-set win over UE yesterday, the defending champions earn their 10th straight trip to the post-elimination round phase. Under coach Ramil De Jesus, La Salle has only missed the semis twice – in 2006 when the entire university was suspended in competing that season and the following year when several games were forfeited due to a player eligibility issue.

Already in his 20th season, coach Ramil says that it is all about keeping up with the tradition.

Rappler

“Siguro hard work ‘yun (semis streak), tapos pangalawa, ‘yung mga bata kasi generation to next generation, ‘yun siguro ang nakikita nila sa mga iniiwan sa kanila ng mga senior players nila, and then naa-adapt nila ang tradition ng team,”

As a multi-titled coach, De Jesus knows what the character of a champion team is like.

Isa kasi sa mga hinahanap ng team ‘yung hindi pu-puwedeng papasok ka lang sa loob ng court, so dapat ‘yung heart nandoon palagi, so all out palagi. ‘Yung character dapat dini-develop inside and outside the court.”

While the team is happy to be in the Final 4, we know very well that the goal does not stop there. The Lady Spikers have a much better streak going, Finals that is and it’s currently at 10 as well.

The goal now is to seal the twice-to-beat advantage with three games left in the elimination round. They return to action on April 8 against UST.

Back to blog