Staying perfect
Perfect in the elimination round and perfect in winning Game 1.
With that, La Salle is eyeing nothing but staying the same as the Lady Spikers try to wrap up the Season 88 UAAP women’s volleyball Finals against back-to-the-wall National University on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
A 13th title in a spotless 16-0 campaign is within reach and the Lady Spikers won’t let their guard down against a bounce-back-seeking Lady Bulldogs in their 5 p.m. duel as NU tries to keep a “three-peat” bid alive.
Angel Canino, whose generational Rookie-MVP season three years ago was also the last time La Salle won a title, is determined to finish the season with a championship and add to the Lady Spikers’ rich winning tradition.
“I really want to end this in a good way, something we can be proud of,” said Canino in Filipino after delivering 17 points in a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 Game 1 ripping of the Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday. She wants nothing but to end a two-year wait for another championship, especially after being swept by National U last season when Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomona still bannered the Bulldogs.
“Now, I’m trying to be more patient with myself and with my teammates,” Canino said. “I think that’s what will carry us to a championship, not just skills, but how we carry ourselves and handle everything so we can finish the season the right way.”
La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus reminds his wards, also bannered by Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, Shane Reterta and rookie setter Eshana Laput, not to be complacent, with the Lady Bulldogs looking to force a rubber match—which would be the first in the tournament since 2019 when Ateneo beat UST for the Season 81 crown.
“We’ll just stick to our preparation. NU doesn’t really change how they play, win or lose—they’re consistent,” De Jesus said as he tries to end the season of former player and now NU counterpart Regine Diego. “Their setter is very experienced, their spikers are solid and even their second stringers are strong.
“NU played really well, but our players just wanted it more,” said De Jesus, who eyes his second tournament sweep since 2004’s 14-0 run.
True enough, Diego won’t back down, as she and the Lady Bulldogs remain optimistic despite getting swept in Game 1.
“I knew they weren’t going to give it to us easily, which is why it was such a tough game,” Diego said. “But for sure, we’ll bounce back in the next one.”
Vange Alinsug, who had 12 points in Game 1, is eager to keep their “three-peat” bid alive.
“Right now, I’m just trying to lift up my teammates because I can see that we all want this badly,” said Alinsug. “We just need to play with even more heart. It’s not over yet. We still have work to do.
“We need to give even more, especially now that La Salle’s confidence is really high,” she added. “We have to polish the things we need to improve on. We really need to stay consistent, especially in the stretch.”
National U will continue to turn to Arah Panique, who led the team with 18 points and fifth-year setter Lams Lamina. Top rookie Sam Cantada, who struggled in her Finals debut with two points on a 1-of-18 attacking clip, vowed to show up.
