By Joaquin Luis E. Quesada

Veteran coach of Philippine volleyball and former student-athlete of Far Eastern University (FEU), Ron Dulay, died Monday evening after long battle against bone marrow disease.

Dulay joined FEU Tamaraws Spikers in 1990 and became part of its three championships in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) seasons 54, 56, and 57.

In a Facebook post of FEU Athletics, Lady Tams current head coach George Pascua shared that he was able to see Dulay’s traits “as a leader and follower.”

After serving his playing years with the Morayta-based squad, Dulay was named to be the new head coach for De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers and spearheaded them atop in seasons 64 and 66.

In season 69, Dulay mentored the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) Lady Eagles which gave the team’s first Final Four appearance.

He also handled the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Fighting Maroons and Letran Lady Knights of the country’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He then returned to UAAP for DLSU in season 76.

Moreover, he was part of the coaching staff of Foton and Generika-Ayala of Philippine SuperLiga (PSL) Grand Prix, before head coaching SMART Giga Hitters of the same league back in 2018.

Aside from his notable collegiate and professional mentoring, Dulay also served the Philippine women’s volleyball team during the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2005 with FEU’s former outside hitter Ramil De Jesus and later in 2017 with Francis Vicente.

Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, he was part of the coaching staff of Vilet Ponce-De Leon’s Marinerang Pilipina in the PSL.