La Salle Lady Spikers still lacking in confidence — RDJ

MANILA, Philippines — The De La Salle Lady Spikers defeated the Adamson Lady Falcons, 25-21, 26-24, 25-20, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Saturday to bounce back and barge into the winning column of the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.

But coach Ramil De Jesus is far from satisfied, saying that his team still lacks confidence.

"We're still lacking in confidence," said De Jesus, who steered the Lady Spikers program to 12 championships.

"In the first set (today), the team seemed to be having a hard time settling in but eventually they got there as well as in the second set. Come the third set, they're a bit more relaxed. I think that's what the team needs to learn." One player who seemed to have gotten her confidence is rookie setter Mikole Reyes, who emerged with 15 excellent sets after dishing just four in her first game against NU last Sunday.

De Jesus hopes that Reyes finally gets her rhythm going as she helped her wing spikers Alleiah Malaluan and Angel Canino claim 16 and 15 points, respectively, against the Lady Falcons.

"What I told our setter is that last timeout was your first game. Now, it's your second. You can't stay as a rookie. You should be improving. Last time, I said that the team will only go as far as where their setter takes them. She should have confidence in what she does."

De Jesus hopes that the Lady Spikers, as a team, gain their confidence, noting that it's the first thing that withers away from them.

"They seemed to be still groping for form. I trust them but that (confidence) is the first thing that vanishes from them and they should be able to pick it back up."