Celebrated coach Ramil De Jesus shares a moment with his former player after PLDT beat Chery Tiggo in the PVL on Tour final.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus was the ultimate winner of the PVL on Tour, witnessing his former Lady Spikers and F2 Logistics Cargo Movers go up against each other and shine in an epic PLDT-Chery Tiggo finale on Sunday as part of the 11,055 crowd at Mall of Asia Arena.
De Jesus, with longtime deputy Noel Orcullo, shared a moment with their former players Mika Reyes, Majoy Baron, Kianna Dy, and Kim Fajardo, who got the better of other ex-F2 and La Salle cogs Ara Galang and Aby Maraño to lead PLDT to its first PVL title with a 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 24-26, 15-8 win over Chery Tiggo.
READ: PVL on Tour: PLDT withstands Chery Tiggo for first title
Coach Ramil De Jesus is proud of his players from PLDT and Chery Tiggo. #PVL2025 #PVLonTour @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/l23RG28Bbd
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 17, 2025
The 12-time UAAP champion coach took selfies and had a chance to express how proud he is of his former players, including rookies in Chery Tiggo’s first rounder Jyne Soreño and Alleiah Malaluan, who is with PLDT but missed the conference due to Alas Pilipinas.
“I’m super happy because our coaches were able to watch and it’s also good to play against Ate Ara and Ate Aby. Very proud of them, I know they really worked hard to be where they are right now. It’s just a very happy mini-reunion,” said Dy after winning her first PVL championship.
“Of course, every time we see him, and if you hear something positive from him, that’s a great achievement.”
Even in defeat, proud Chery Tiggo leader Maraño felt fulfilled to see De Jesus flash his smile after giving their best to erase a two-set deficit only to fall short.
“When I saw Coach earlier, and we walked over to him. His smile was something else, like he was really at ease and so proud of us,” Maraño told the reporters in Filipino. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen him smile at us like that, with that kind of look in his eyes. That moment, all of us taking a picture together, it honestly felt magical for me.”
READ: Ateneo-La Salle rivalry not the same since Alyssa Valdez left, says RDJ
All love for former La Salle and F2 Logistics players #PVLonTour #PVL2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tt6NefDJqY
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) August 17, 2025
Fajardo and Baron and other De Jesus’ longtime players will always credit their careers to where it all started in La Salle, a school that honed them to become winners and achievers.
“I’m super happy and grateful because they molded us. The talent and lessons they taught us, nothing can replace that. And it wasn’t just about skills. It was everything, attitude, character, all of it,” said Fajardo.
“They’ve really been our mentors from the very beginning. The way we play now, it’s because of them. Even our attitude on the court, we carry that with us because of what they taught us. Seeing Coach Ramil there to support us, that felt really special. It feels so good, and winning the championship just made it even better,” added three-time PVL Best Middle Blocker Baron.
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“I’m really thankful because my foundation came from them. I didn’t enter La Salle as a skillful player, everything I learned, I owe to them.”
Galang may have fallen short of completing Chery Tiggo’s comeback, but she’s proud of her former teammates and sharing the PVL big stage with the players who were honed by De Jesus, including the PVL on Tour MVP Erika Santos, who had a breakthrough with Cignal.
“Overall, I’m really happy, I’m happy that they won too, and I’m proud of what we each accomplished individually, even if we’re on different teams now. We’re still friends, after all, so we’re genuinely happy for each other,” Galang said.
