By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers redeemed themselves from their only loss of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball against UST and swept the struggling University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25-15, 25-16, 25-16, last April 16, 2023, held at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Fresh off the pain they absorbed from Eya Laure and the Growling Tigresses two weeks ago, the Lady Spikers vented their ire on the Fighting Maroons and displayed a three-set domination on both ends of the floor.
De La Salle first set the tone defensively when they managed to swat 60 % of UP’s offensive attacks inside the first 15 minutes of action.
Shevana Laput, one of the young bright prospects for the Lady Spikers, finally received the first start of her collegiate career and immediately paid off the trust of the DLSU coaching staff when she did her work in the blocking department.
Laput’s early spark then paved the way for the DLSU gunners to operate including Angel Canino who went on a personal scoring frenzy to close the opening set in style.
The no. 1 candidate for this season’s Rookie of the Year awardee led the charge for the Lady Spikers and recorded 17 points built from 26 total attacks, two blocks, and two service aces.
Despite UP adjusting their attacks in the last two sets, the Lady Spikers still proved to be too much and limited the Fighting Maroons to just 32 combined points in sets 2 and 3.
Backstopping Canino in DLSU’s scoring is middle blocker Thea Gagate who chipped in 11 markers while Fifi Sharma and Jolina Dela Cruz contributed six points each.
“After the game nung sa UST, yun din yung sinabi sa kanila na kahit papaano makaranas kung paano babangon. After ng Holy Week pinaalala sa kanila kalimutan na yung nangyari, ito kailangan big bounce back ba. At least, they showed it,” said De La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
With the win, the Lady Spikers improved to 10 wins and one loss, still the best in the league while the Fighting Maroons fell to 1-10 and are the second-worst team in the ongoing season.
