Lady Spikers tame Golden Tigresses to clinch first finals slot

TITLE FAVORITES The De La Salle University Lady Spikers celebrate their win against the University of Santo Tomas Lady Tigresses on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball semifinals at the Araneta Coliseum. UAAP PHOTO 

DE LA SALLE University made its second consecutive finals appearance after fending off University of Santo Tomas (UST), 26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 25-19, in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball semifinals before 6,694 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.

Super rookie Angel Canino, who is one of the leading contenders in the Most Valuable Player race, posted a game-high 19 points on 18 attacks to go along with 10 excellent digs as the Lady Spikers made their 20th finals appearance in the UAAP.

Canino delivered back-to-back attacks, giving the Taft-based spikers a comfortable 21-13 advantage in the fourth set.

The Golden Tigresses made a last-ditch attempt to save their season with Milena Alessandrini and Imee Hernandez igniting a 3-0 spurt that eventually trimmed the lead to five, 19-24.

That proved to be it for UST as Alleiah Malaluan scored through the block to push La Salle at match point before Thea Gagate blocked Alessandrini, propelling the Lady Spikers to the finals where they will face the winner of the other semifinals duel between defending champion National University and Adamson University.

“Happy dahil ayun nga, na-redeem namin ‘yung pagkatalo namin nung second round. So eto, nasa finals na,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.

“But it’s not over yet. We still have a long way to go. That is why we still need to train and improve ourselves.”

Jolina de la Cruz supplied 10 points and six excellent receptions while Gagate and Alleiah chipped in nine points apiece. Rookie Shevana Laput added eight points.

Justine Jazareno tallied 22 excellent digs and 16 excellent receptions while Mars Alba tossed 12 excellent sets to go along with three markers.

The Lady Spikers set the tone early and took a 24-22 lead in the opener after Laput converted one from the service line.

Eya Laure kept the Golden Tigresses alive with consecutive through the block hits, but Canino nailed a down-the-line hit before Fifi Sharma roofed Laure to give La Salle the first set.

La Salle used a late run in the second set to pull away from UST before the latter bounced back in the third and led by as much as nine points, 19-10, to send the game to a fourth set.

Laure finished with 15 points on 14 attacks to go along with 12 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions for the Golden Tigresses even as Hernandez chipped in 12 points, including two blocks.

Alessandrini and Regina Jurado each had eight points.