Lucky 13th
La Salle wrote a perfect ending to finish its redemption tour in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament that took three years to make.
The Lady Spikers completed their unbeaten march to championship No. 13, dethroning National University with ease, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16, in Game 2 of the Finals on Saturday in front of 22,509 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena, as La Salle returned the favor, so to speak, after being swept by the Lady Bulldogs last year.
La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus had a modest goal of reaching NU’s level after the group of former stars Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon won three of the last four seasons for the Bulldogs.
“For me, you always have to chase the level of the champion. Whoever wins the title becomes the standard you need to prepare for and try to reach,” said De Jesus in Filipino. “It also helped that some of our seniors played for Alas … they became guides for (our) younger players.”
The Lady Spikers didn’t just match the Lady Bulldogs’ level; they finished a season like no other with a 16-0 sweep, counting a perfect performance in the title series where they didn’t yield a set to a very formidable foe.
Shevana Laput, who was limited to 11 Game 1 points, bounced back with 20 points on 14 kills and six blocks to emerge as the Finals MVP.
Angel Canino delivered 11 points, 10 digs and 10 excellent receptions, as Amie Provido contributed nine points, with Shane Reterta and Lilay Del Castillo adding eight each. Rookie setter Eshana Nunag had 17 excellent sets.
De Jesus scored his first 16-0 sweep, his second undefeated season after steering La Salle to a 14-game sweep and the outright title in 2004.
Bitter memory erased
But it wasn’t easy before they finally erased memories of Season 76, when they squandered an outright Finals berth and lost the title to an Ateneo squad led by Alyssa Valdez.
“Honestly, it was very difficult. Even in the first round, we already faced a lot of struggles,” De Jesus said. “There were games without (some key players). Those were challenges the team had to go through.
“I even told myself maybe we’d become champions because of all the challenges we experienced. It wasn’t easy because we mostly relied on seven to eight players in the rotation,” he went on. “With games (played) so close together, some players were dealing with knee pain and body aches. Recovery became a really big deal for us.”
“I’m thankful we finished Season 88 without major injuries and that the players stayed healthy overall, even though I know many of them were already playing through pain,” he added.
The longtime La Salle coach was grateful for another championship, as his passion to teach aspiring volleyball players will never stop, hoping to continue developing more Lady Spikers and winning more UAAP titles.
“For me, when you go to La Salle, you have to be ready to adjust. You need to follow the system and do what’s asked of you,” De Jesus explained. “If you’re just going there to be associated with La Salle, then that’s not the goal. If you choose to go there, you have to be ready to handle everything.”
“Teaching is really my passion. Whenever I see potential in a player, I want to help bring out their talent and keep pushing them further. I really enjoy teaching, and if a player wants to learn, we’ll help them improve.”
NU saw its bid for a third straight title denied by La Salle in the rivals’ fourth Finals meeting.
Setter Lams Lamina played her final game for the Lady Bulldogs with 11 excellent sets.
Vange Alinsug led NU with 14 points. Sam Cantada had eight points, while Game 1 leading scorer Arah Panique was held to just seven points.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
