Ramil de Jesus’ Tough Love Sharpens Eshana Nunag in DLSU’s Perfect Season

This is how Eshana Nunag emerged as the steady hand behind DLSU’s perfect UAAP Season 88 run. 

Being a serial perfectionist, tough love has long been a trademark of Ramil de Jesus’ coaching with De La Salle University — one that’s perfectly captured by televised huddles in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament. 

For Season 88, the latest recipient of that tough love was Eshana Nunag, the rookie setter who steered the Lady Spikers en route to a rare season sweep and their 13th UAAP championship. 

“Lagi nga kami nag-aaway sa training eh…ay, inaaway ko pala siya sa training,” de Jesus said with a laugh shortly after DLSU reclaimed the UAAP volleyball throne last Saturday, May 9. 

Indeed, Nunag has responded to the challenge of orchestrating DLSU’s offense as she tossed up a league-high 5.31 excellent sets per frame. Tasked with activating hitters like Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Shane Reterta, the homegrown playmaker also finished second in the Best Setter race behind Adamson’s Fhei Sagaysay. 

In the finals against National University, Nunag dazzled in Game 1 with 19 excellent sets, before capping off her rookie season with 17 in Game 2. And for De Jesus, it’s crystal clear that Nunag’s steady hands were the missing component in DLSU’s championship aspirations.

Yet if the champion mentor is being honest, we haven’t seen the best of Eshana Nunag just yet.

“Siguro Season 87, ito ‘yung missing link ng team. Dumating na, so may mga iilang bagay lang ako na cinocorrect pa sa kanya para maging pulido ‘yung galaw,” De Jesus said. “Pero ang good thing naman is onti-onti naman niyang nakukuha para mas ma-polish ‘yung galaw, para kahit beterano ‘yung kalaban mo hindi ka malalayo doon.”

“Happy ako kasi rookie siya pero nadala niya ‘yung team sa championship and nandito na nga. Nakuha namin ‘yung championship.” 

Nunag agrees that de Jesus’ hands-on guidance has been instrumental to her rise, something she’s experienced since she started training with DLSU in 11th grade.

“Siguro po, talagang tatak na tatak din po ako kay coach kapag training. Marami din cinocorrect. Dahil din doon, siguro nandoon din ‘yung willingness ko na tanggapin nang tanggapin ‘yung kailangan kong ayusin para makatulong sa team na ito,” Nunag, a product of La Salle Senior High School, said.

“Also, siguro malaking tulong din ‘yung senior high ko dito na tinulungan na ako since Grade 11 pa and pagdating sa college, pagdating sa first year, nandoon na rin ‘yung sistema nila coach.”

Now with one title run under her belt, Nunag knows she can only get better, especially with a dedicated mentor in de Jesus and a steady set of veterans over at Taft Avenue.

“Siguro po, this season marami po akong natutunan sa first UAAP ko. Marami ako madadala sa next season ko and dahil din sa tulong ng ates ko kaya naakaabot kami dito, hindi lang po ako,” she said. “Ang laki din ng improvement ng lahat compared sa past season so thank you po sa support nila and sa guidance din ng mga coaches.”

Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.

RJ Ballecer

Associate Editor

RJ Ballecer is an Associate Editor at The GAME who primarily covers the local volleyball scene. His work focuses on human-interest pieces, and lifestyle-leaning stories on athletes' fashion and off-the-court activities.

 

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