Path to perfect first round gets harder for La Salle
It is getting harder and harder for La Salle to keep its unbeaten record intact.
And to think the Lady Spikers have yet to play their toughest foe.
On Wednesday, they had to deal with even greater adversity than they ever had to so far in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament—and it took a career night from Shevana Laput to keep them from drowning in that challenge.
Laput fired 26 points, including 19 kills, six blocks and an ace, as La Salle survived Adamson, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 13-25, 15-5, at Mall of Asia Arena to stretch its winning streak to six games.
But as has been the trend lately, the Lady Spikers needed to grind for the victory.
Adamson, no longer relying solely on star scorer Shaina Nitura, pushed La Salle to the brink by taking the opening set and dominating the fourth to force a decider.
“It’s necessary to go through these kinds of trials and tribulations,” Laput said. “Everything happens for a reason. The road to the championship is not an easy one. If it were easy, every team would win a championship.”
La Salle responded with authority in the fifth set, racing to an early lead and never looking back.
“We struggled to get to 6-0,” Laput said. “Every game that we come to, it’s not easy. We’ve had to fight. We’ve had to give our all every single game.”
Angel Canino backed Laput with an all-around performance of 19 points, 12 digs and 11 excellent receptions, helping steady the Lady Spikers through a match filled with momentum swings.
“In the fifth set, we really played with heart,” said Canino.
The victory served as a timely wake-up call for La Salle ahead of its highly anticipated finals rematch against defending champion National U on Sunday as the Lady Spikers chase a first-round sweep.
