Written by Akari Sports Staff | Photo from The UAAP
EXCEPT for a rough patch in the third set, La Salle dismantled also-ran Ateneo, 25-13, 25-12, 25-18, to formally sew up the No. 1 ranking in the UAAP women’s volleyball eliminations Saturday at the Playtime Filoil Centre.
In the first rivalry match at the San Juan arena since the Lady Spikers nipped the then Lady Eagles, 26-28, 21-25, 25-13, 25-21, 15-13, on Jan. 12, 2013, the Taft-based side erased a 14-15 deficit with a strong 11-3 finishing run to prevail.
Lilay del Castillo, one of the vital cogs in the third set uprising, downplayed the team’s immaculate record.
“Yung 12-0 naming standing, for me, it’s just merely a number po. For us, para hindi siya [importante], para wala po yung pressure sa amin. Pero syempre, parang goal pa rin namin masweep,” Del Castillo said.
“Pero para maiwasan po namin yung dagdag pressure, parang mas ini-enjoy na lang namin, lalo na malapit na rin po itong semis,” the middle blocker added.
La Salle reasserted its mastery of Ateneo, marking the Lady Spikers’ 18th consecutive win over the Blue Eagles since May 2, 2017.
“Yun nga, medyo nung third set, medyo nag-relax. Nawala sa focus yung mga bata, hopefully huwag na mangyayari ‘yon sa susunod. ‘Yon naman palagi namin pinapaalala sa kanila na laging yung focus, hindi mawala. Hangga’t maaari, tapusin kung kaya tapusin nang mabilis. Doon sa times na nawawala sa focus, at pag alam nilang lamang, nagre-relax. Kailangan lang huwag alisin yung focus sa game,” La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo said.
Angel Canino led the Lady Spikers with 15 points, including two blocks, and nine receptions. Amie Provido added 12 points on eight attacks, three blocks, and an ace. Shevana Laput scored nine points, Del Castillo also had nine, including two blocks, while rookie Shan Nunag tossed in 22 excellent sets.
La Salle will take on another already-eliminated team, the University of the East, on Wednesday before closing out the elims with a rematch with titleholder National University on April 19.
Victories in the last two matches will give the Lady Spikers an outright passage to the best-of-three Finals.
