Written by Akari Sports Staff | Photo from The UAAP
LA SALLE brushed off slow starts in the first and third sets to pull off a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 romp of National University and move closer to securing a 13th UAAP women’s volleyball title Wednesday before 15,056 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Lady Spikers, who extended their perfect run to 15 matches, are built differently, determined to end a two-year agonizing wait in regaining the throne.
Coming off a 17-day lay-off after completing a 14-0 elimination round sweep, La Salle was visibly off tune in the early goings and was staring at a 14-19 hole.
But the Lady Bulldogs crumbled as the Lady Spikers netted 11 of the first set’s 15 points behind Angel Canino, Shane Reterta, and Amie Provido to gain the upper hand.
It was the same story in the third set, as NU raced to a 4-0 lead before Provido and Shevana Laput, who finally got her game going after struggling in the first set, led in providing the finishing touches for La Salle to seize the 1-0 series lead.
It was the Lady Bulldogs’ first straight-set Finals loss since their dynasty started in 2022.
“Mabagal ‘yung start namin and eventually nung latter part na ng set, naka-adjust na ‘yung team at nakasabay na sa ganong klaseng labanan at na-handle ang pressure,” said Lady Spikers coach Ramil de Jesus.
“Nung first week (of waiting) namin actually recovery at rehab kami then the following week medyo nag-adjust na kami, kaunting conditioning at tuneup games. Ganon kahaba at least maganda para sa amin kasi nung natapos ang second round bugbog kami sa laro eh, kinailangan ng team yun at naging advantage namin siguro yun,” he added.
La Salle shoots for its first perfect season since 2004 and exorcises the ghost of its stunning Season 76 Finals defeat to Ateneo in 2014 when it went unbeaten in the eliminations before falling short of the title in Game 2 at 5 p.m. on Saturday at the bayside Pasay arena.
Canino, who was the Rookie-MVP when the Lady Spikers won their most recent title in 2023, was in the zone with 17 points and nine digs while Provido had four blocks for a 12-point outing and collected four digs. Reterta and Laput each scored 11 points.
“Happy ako kasi ‘yung mga bata talaga today nag-step up din. Lahat talaga naipakita ng team na kung sino man ang ipasok, kayang mag-contribute. I think that’s one of the best things na nangyari ngayong game na ito. Of course, ‘yung kapit din as a team, nakita ulit namin na kaya naming kumapit kahit lamang ang NU,” said Canino.
