MOTIVATED from last season, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers are on a redemption tour in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, backed by Jillian Santos’ return to the collegiate league.
Angel Canino, the former UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year and MVP, and Shevana Laput will benefit greatly from the addition of the 5-foot-10 opposite spiker from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Santos, on the other hand, is no stranger to the Taft-based club, having previously played in the UAAP with the UST Golden Spikers and a brief stint as a COVID reserve with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Season 84.
Welcome Back, Jill!
After three years of playing in the United States, where she led the team as captain in her senior year, Santos decided to return to the Philippines to play for La Salle, knowing she was still eligible.
The Fil-Am spiker had a memorable stay in the US, as she graduated from the university as a Summa Cum Laude with a psychology degree. Santos is currently pursuing her master’s degree at La Salle.
“After learning that I had two more years of UAAP eligibility left, La Salle reached out to me. They not only offered me a chance to play but also pursue my master’s in clinical psychology,” said Santos.
Santos also explained a few other reasons why she decided to return and join La Salle. First, she shared how big it is for her to be back at home and how important the Taft community had been to her.
“La Salle was the primary one that expressed interest. They got to know me on a personal level, even my dad [Jeffrey] and other family members,” she said
“They built that connection, which impacted my decision. Plus, my mom [Gieneen] graduated from La Salle, so that also played a role,” she went on to explain her decision.
Time to Work
Setting aside the talks on her decision to join the Lady Spikers, Santos is ready to show off her foreign experience in the UAAP. Lucky for her, the UAAP’s winningest coach, Ramil de Jesus, understands how to improve her abilities.
“It was incredible, playing in another country, experiencing a new level of play, and pushing myself,” Santos said.
“I made lifelong friends, learned a lot about independence, and even became captain of UIC in my last season. That was something I never expected, but I welcomed the challenge with open arms.”
“Coach Ramil [de Jesus] is a great mentor. You can see day in and day out that he truly cares about the personal excellence of each one of his players. I’m grateful to be a part of his system this season,” she said.
Nonetheless, the Taft community can expect her to give her all on and off the court as the newest Lady Spiker strives to help the Taft-based squad recapture its title in women’s volleyball.
Santos and the rest of the DLSU Lady Spikers will open their highly anticipated season against their archrivals, the National University Lady Bulldogs, on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
