MANILA, Philippines – As they ended their UAAP careers as champions, De La Salle University's senior players paid tribute to the man who developed them into superstars – celebrated coach Ramil de Jesus.

Kianna Dy, Majoy Baron, and Dawn Macandili all had their shining moments in La Salle's 26-24, 25-20, 26-24 conquest of Far Eastern University in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 80 women's volleyball finals – a hard-earned triumph that gave the Lady Spikers their third straight championship.

Dy had a game-high 19 points, Baron scored 10, while Macandili had another superb outing with eight receptions and 21 digs. The libero would be named Most Valuable Player of the Finals.

• IN PHOTOS: La Salle beats FEU for 3rd straight women's volleyball crown

De Jesus won't deny that he has a very special relationship with the three players, but especially with Macandili and Dy, whom he coached as high-school players at De La Salle-Zobel.

"Mas matagal ko pa yatang kasama ito kaysa family ko eh," de Jesus said of the La Salle team in general. "Buong week, kasama ko sila, then umuuwi lang ako ng family, siguro weekends. Mas kilala ko sila and mas attached kami sa isa't isa."

"Sa pagtulog na lang siguro kami nagkakahiwalay. Ganun kami ka-close," he added.

To which Macandili replied: "Coach, nasa panaginip pa rin kita."

"Ako rin, minsan," Baron chimed in.

Jokes aside, the graduating La Salle players all know that without de Jesus, they would not reach the level of success that they have enjoyed in the UAAP.

Baron, for one, noted that de Jesus is not the kind of coach who will shower a player with praises; this kind of tough love taught them never to be satisfied with themselves, says the player.

'"Yung natutunan namin sa kanya is lagi dapat magi-improve, and 'wag magse-settle kung anong meron ka," said Baron, who won MVP honors in Season 79.

"Siguro 'yun ang naging key kaya narating namin kung ano kami ngayon, kasi sa tiyaga niya at the way niya kami pinalaki, hindi kami naku-kuntento kung anong meron kami," she added.

Dy said that as de Jesus' player, she knew that she had to work hard just to catch the coach's attention – and in the process, earn a chance from the veteran mentor.

"Coming into La Salle kasi, alam namin na maraming magagaling na players so mahihirapan talaga kami. So if we really worked hard, matutuwa si coach sa'yo. So ayun, he's gonna give you attention, it's up to you na lang how you step up sa team," she said.

For Macandili, what she will most remember is de Jesus' patience. "As in, sobrang haba ng pasensiya (niya)," the diminutive libero said.

"Ako na-o-observe ko kasi 'yun sa training, kasi 'yung iba 'pag nagkamali tapos next training, 'yun na naman ang mali nila, si coach hindi siya naiinis, parang OK lang sa kanya, paulit-ulit niyang tinuturo at pino-point out niya 'yung mali ng player, kasi gusto niya na mag-improve 'yung player," said Macandili.

"So nasa player na 'yung kung ia-absorb niya 'yung instructions ni coach. So kaming players, very thankful kami na hindi siya nagsasawa na turuan kami, kasi kung nag-sawa siya, wala kami dito," she added.

De Jesus is never one to gush about his players, no matter how much they have accomplished in their career. However, he could not help but smile when asked to look back at how much the "Big 3" had grown from the time that he recruited them, until now – when they gave him his 11th UAAP championship.

According to de Jesus, he recruited both Baron and Dy for their height. "Ito naman (si Dawn), halos 'di ko pinapansin," he said, drawing laughter from his players.

"Alam ko na sasakit ang ulo ko, hindi naman sasakit sa attitude, pero sasakit ang ulo ko sa pagtuturo. Dahil bihira 'yung dumarating sa aking player na very talented. Siguro ito, hard-worker lang ang mga ito, kaya umaangat ang level nila," he explained.

Macandili earned his attention because of how hard she worked, while Dy leaned on her remarkable athleticism to become one of the finest utility spikers in the UAAP. Baron, meanwhile, showed that her height was not all that she had, instead turning into perhaps the most feared blocker in the league.

"Very thankful ako sa na-reach nila," said de Jesus. "Kapag siguro ma-select sila sa national team, or ano mang team sila mapunta, talagang deserve nila 'yun."

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