Ramil de Jesus remains as dedicated as ever to guide the DLSU Lady Spikers and here’s why.
With 13 championships and 336 wins to his name, Ramil de Jesus has nothing left to prove as head coach of De La Salle University in UAAP Women’s Volleyball.
But while he could easily call it a career, de Jesus remains as driven as ever. And for him, that drive goes deeper than chasing championships with a program he’s built from the ground up.
“Sa akin, wala. Parang passion ko kasi ito,” said de Jesus after DLSU won their 13th UAAP Women’s Volleyball championship last Saturday, May 9. “Parang sa akin, pag may dumating na potential [tuturuan], and then hindi lang doon, i-push mo din kung sa academics, ganun din.
“So ‘yun ‘yung passion ko, talagang passion ko magturo. Kung gusto ng bata matuto, tulungan natin matuto.”
Since taking over DLSU in 1996, “Coach RDJ” has produced countless volleyball stars across generations — from the likes of Iris Ortega, Manilla Santos-Ng and Ara Galang, to the current batch led by Angel Canino, Amie Provido, Shevana Laput, and Lyka de Leon.
On Saturday, it was the batch of Canino and crew who made history for the Lady Spikers, as they became just the third team to complete a historic “Sweep 16”. Even more impressive, this is now DLSU’s second time to sweep a UAAP season, following their outright championship win back in Season 67 (2004).
“Sobrang happy ako kasi ito talaga ‘yung target namin after ng Season 87, talagang makabalik sa finals. Hindi namin ineexpect na massweep namin ‘yung season, so proud ako sa mga players ko and sa coaching staff,” de Jesus said.
Dominant as they were, the legendary mentor stressed that the route to perfection was far from a cakewalk due to injuries and close calls throughout the elimination round.
“First round pa lang, ang daming struggle na dumaan sa team. Nandiyan ‘yung games na wala si Shevana, may mga games na wala si Lilay [del Castillo], si Mikole [Reyes],” recalled de Jesus.
“Sabi ko ito ‘yung mga challenges na dapat naming pagdaanan. Sa second round, ganon din, so sabi ko na baka magchampion tayo kasi ang dami nang naunang challenges sa team eh. Hindi rin madali kasi mostly sila sila lang ‘yung umiikot, mga seven or eight players lang umiikot.”
Now that Season 88 is in the books, the grind continues for Ramil de Jesus and DLSU, who will defend their title with an intact core featuring the “Batch 122” quartet of Canino, Laput, Provido, and de Leon, alongside promising youngsters in Eshana Nunag, Lilay del Castillo, and Shane Reterta.
Being the teacher that he is, de Jesus’ mindset remains simple as he and the Lady Spikers try to keep the crown over at Taft Avenue.
“Para sakin kasi, pag pumunta ka sa La Salle, ready ka dapat mag-adjust. Hindi pwedeng walang disiplina kasi kailangan mo sumunod. Kailangan mong sundin ‘yung kultura na nandoon,” he said.
“Kung pumunta ka doon para lang ma-associate sa La Salle, eh hindi ‘yun ang goal. Unang una, lahat talaga kaya mong gawin. Academics, disiplina, part ‘yun ng pagiging student-athlete sa La Salle.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ramil de Jesus, known as “Coach RDJ,” has led De La Salle University’s women’s volleyball program since 1996, amassing 13 UAAP Women’s Volleyball championships and 336 wins. He guided the Lady Spikers to their latest title on May 9, 2026, in UAAP Season 88.
DLSU became just the third team to complete a “Sweep 16,” winning every match of a UAAP Women’s Volleyball season. It marked DLSU’s second time sweeping a UAAP season, following their first outright sweep championship in Season 67 back in 2004.
De Jesus said his drive comes from a genuine passion for teaching rather than just chasing championships. He described wanting to develop players’ potential both on the court and in academics, framing his motivation around helping student-athletes learn and grow.
The Lady Spikers dealt with injuries throughout the elimination rounds, playing multiple games without key players including Shevana Laput, Lilay del Castillo, and Mikole Reyes. De Jesus said the team often had only seven or eight available players rotating through games.
DLSU’s “Batch 122” core of Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Lyka de Leon remains intact for the team’s title defense, joined by rising players Eshana Nunag, Lilay del Castillo, and Shane Reterta as the program builds depth for future UAAP seasons.
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