Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Defending champion De La Salle recovered just in time to turn back two-time finals rival National University, 15-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-19, 15-12, and notch its sixth win in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday, March 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It was a fitting performance for the Lady Spikers as they wrapped up the first round at solo second with a 6-1 win-loss record behind league leader University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.
Reigning Rookie-MVP Angel Canino carried the fight for La Salle particularly in the closing set, where she scattered five of her 17 points in the crucial stretch.
Sophomore Shevana Laput also delivered the goods for the Lady Spikers with a season-high 20 points built on 18 attacks and two blocks, while Amie Provido unloaded 14 points highlighted by five blocks.
Alleiah Malaluan had 12 points in the extended affair.
NU, which was riding the crest of a five-game winning run before the highly-anticipated clash, finished the first round with a 5-2 slate for solo third place.
The fifth set saw five deadlocks before La Salle pulled away with a determined 12-8 advantage capped by captain playmaker Julia Coronel’s morale boosting block on Bella Belen.
The Lady Bulldogs then came within just two, 13-11, after Vange Alinsug’s down-the-line kill, but Canino and Laput took matters into their own hands with back-to-back hits to seal the win for the Lady Spikers.
As expected, the reliable trio of Solomon, Belen and Alinsug paced National U with explosive performances that obviously went for naught.
Solomon finished with 21 points to lead all scorers, while Belen had 20 markers that went with 20 digs and 12 receptions.
Alinsug, for her part, had 19 points to help out the cause. — Nikole Javier
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
