When Louie Ramirez bid farewell to Cignal after the 2022 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, he made a promise to himself. A promise that when he returned, it would be as a better and more improved version of the player that left.
Fast forward to the 2024 Invitational Conference, and Ramirez has more than lived up to that promise.
The 6-foot-3 outside hitter has been on a tear throughout the tournament, leading the HD Spikers to two straight-sets victories in the round-robin semifinals.
He topped the scoring charts with 17 points in a dominant win against Savouge, and followed it up with another strong performance, contributing 14 points in a victory over FEU-DN Steel.
It’s clear: the Louie Ramirez of today is a far cry from the one who left the team nearly two years ago.
“Bago ako umalis ng Cignal, sinabi ko talaga sa sarili ko na bago ako bumalik sa kanila dapat kumpleto na ako kasi alam ko naman na ang dami ko pang kulang,” shared Ramirez.
To understand just how far Ramirez has come, one needs to look at the journey that took place during his year and a half away from the HD Spikers.
In August 2023, Ramirez was given the opportunity to train with Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler, a team in Japan’s V.League Division 1 where Filipino standout Bryan Bagunas had once played.
While his dream of becoming an import in Japan didn’t come to fruition, the experience proved invaluable.
Ramirez returned to his collegiate team, the Perpetual Altas, where he quickly re-established himself as one of the country’s most versatile athletes. He led his school to two championships in his final NCAA season, showcasing a newfound skill set and a deeper understanding of the game. But his journey didn’t stop there.
Along with his teammate Jefferson Marapoc, Ramirez conquered the Season 99 beach volleyball tournament in January 2024.
They also helped Perpetual clinch the men’s volleyball title in May, further solidifying Ramirez’s place among the country’s volleyball elite. In the same year, his efforts earned him an invitation to the national team, Alas Pilipinas.
“Nabigyan ako ng opportunity na makapunta ng Japan, mag-training so doon ko kinuha lahat ng kulang ko like sa reception hanggang sa nag national team ako tapos nag training camp sa Italy,” said Ramirez. “Pagbalik dito, sinabi ko sa sarili ko na iba na ‘yung Louie Ramirez.”
Now, fully equipped with a broader set of skills and an unwavering drive, Ramirez is poised to lead the HD Spikers to a championship. With a spot in the gold medal match on the line, Cignal will clash with Criss Cross on Sunday, where Ramirez aims to put the finishing touch on his journey of growth and redemption.
