Beat the Adamson Lady Falcons in five sets
Games on Saturday
(SM Mall of Asia Arena)
9am – Ateneo vs UE (Men)
11am – FEU vs UST (Men)
1pm – Ateneo vs UE (Women)
3pm – FEU vs UST (Women)
DE LA Salle University (DLSU) avoided stiff opposition from Adamson University (AdU) to escape with a 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 13-25, 15-5 victory and close out the first round sweep in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The DLSU Lady Spikers got off to a rough start and went on an impressive 8-0 run to shut out the AdU Lady Falcons for their sixth straight win in as many games.
The only team left on La Salle’s checklist is National University (NU) who is trailing behind the reigning champion, who is a close second with a 5-1 slate, this Sunday at the same stadium in the much-anticipated final.
La Salle anchors its strong determination and veteran pedigree among a much-improved Lady Falcons lineup led by last year’s Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura and rising star Frances Mordi.
Also leading the way was ace spiker and MVP contender Shevana Laput, who bounced back from scoring just nine points in her last game against UE with a career-best 26 points.
The 6-foot-2 hitter had 19 hits, six blocks and an ace, most of which came in La Salle’s 8-0 outburst to finish off the black Lady Falcons in the tightrope with a 7-5 score in the key.
Season 85 Rookie-MVP Angel Canino, who led the way during Miss Laput’s two-game absence, also contributed to a brilliant total of 19 points, 12 digs and 11 receptions while Shane Reterta also posted 10 points, 12 receptions and 11 digs.
Middle blocker Amie Provido added nine points and league leading scorer Eshana Nunag contributed 23 sets. Libero Lyka De Leon had 18 receptions and 14 digs.
“It took us until the fifth set to really wake up and realize that we came here for a purpose. We didn’t win two sets to lose the fifth set. We didn’t win,” said Ms. Laput, sister of PBA player James of Magnolia.
Mrs. Laput, Reterta and Provido accounted for the last eight points for La Salle in their first five-set contest after going 15-1 in the first five games. The Lady Spikers’ only loss before this came against rival Ateneo de Manila University.
And the Lady Spikers had to work for every inch of it, getting off on the wrong foot in the first set loss 19-25 before taking care of the next two sets only for the Lady Falcons to set up the rubber match with a convincing 12-point win in the fourth.
Good for La Salle, experience played a big role as Mss. Nitura and Mordi didn’t go astray when it mattered most.
Ms. Mordi (22) and Ms. Nitura (21) had their usual numbers against Adamson, who lost 3-3 in preparation for their last game against the other four in the finals of the University of the Philippines (UP) (3-2).
In men’s action, University of Santo Tomas (5-1) held off UP (2-4), 25-22, 25-18, 25-16, to earn a share of the second seed with five-peat champion NU (5-1) while La Salle (2-4) earned its second straight win against Adamson (1-21, 21, 25, 25, 25, 25) 25-20. – John Bryan Ulanday
