Despite the absence of team captain Shevana Laput, the La Salle Lady Spikers continued their dominant run, sweeping the UP Fighting Maroons, 25-12, 25-15, 25-19, in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Laput sat out due to illness, but La Salle’s system remained on full display. The victory marked the Lady Spikers’ third consecutive straight-sets win—and arguably their most convincing performance so far.
La Salle Dominates from Start to Finish
In their first two triumphs over the FEU Lady Tamaraws and the UST Golden Tigresses, La Salle controlled the opening sets before easing up in the third and allowing opponents to mount brief rallies. This time, however, the Taft-based squad maintained its intensity from start to finish against UP.
“Siguro natututo na doon sa first two games namin na palaging pagdating ng third set magre-relax. So ngayon, ni-remind ko lang sila na kailangan kung ano ‘yung mindset doon sa first set hanggang third set dapat ganon din,” said Lady Spikers head coach Ramil de Jesus.
Four Lady Spikers scored in double figures, led by Angel Canino with 12 points built on 11 attacks and 1 block. Amie Provido and Shane Reterta added 11 points each, while rookie Mikee Santos stepped up in Laput’s absence with 10 markers from 8 attacks and 2 blocks.
For UP, no player reached double digits. Casiey Dongallo paced the Fighting Maroons with six points, while Jelaica Faye Gajero, Irah Jaboneta, and Niña Ytang chipped in four markers apiece.
The Lady Spikers brace for a marquee showdown against archrival Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, March 1, at 1:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons look to recover as they take on defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs on Saturday, February 28, at 5:00 p.m.
