Fresh from an undefeated NCAA Season 98 men’s beach volleyball run, Louie Ramirez quickly shrugged off the sand and gave Imus-Ivy Tuason Photography a winning debut in the 2023 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference on Sunday night.
The AJAA Spikers turned back a gutsy Santa Rosa side in four close sets, 25-22, 28-26, 29-31, 25-16, to chalk up their first win in the Philippines’ premier men’s volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.
Ramirez, who came off the bench in the opening set, dropped 17 big points in his return to indoor volleyball.
Last Thursday, the collegiate star from Perpetual, along with teammate Jefferson Marapoc, completed an 11-0 sweep of the Season 98 men’s beach volleyball tournament en route to the school’s first since 2017.
Ramirez said that he had a hard time adjusting to the indoor style of play and playing with his new teammates, but his eagerness to help his side get their first victory prevailed.
“Medyo mahirap kasi nakakapanibago. Ang bigat sa katawan pero nandoon pa rin yung kagustuhan ko na mag-laro sa indoor,” said Ramirez, who played for Cignal in the previous conference.
With his timing still off, Ramirez said that he just rode the intensity of his teammates especially after the team lost a tight third set that could have ended the game.
“Kumbaga after nung third set, sumabay na lang ako sa intensity nung mga kasama ko kasi nga sabi nila gusto na nilang tapusin,” said Ramirez.
“So yun, ginalawan nila ng maayos kaya sabi ko rin na sasabay na lang ako sa performance ng mga kasama ko kaya nung fourth set nabigay namin yung galaw ng isa’t isa.”
