Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Sans reigning Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player Angel Canino, defending champion De La Salle turned back University of the Philippines, 26-24, 25-18, 24-26, 27-25, in the second round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Thursday, April 4, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Lady Spikers inched closer to a Final Four return after improving their record to 8-1 in the standings, still good enough to keep the solo second spot.
A win for Far Eastern University in its game against Ateneo at press time automatically gives La Salle and National University a Final Four spot alongside University of Santo Tomas, which booked the first semifinal ticket off a four-set win over Adamson Lady Falcons a day prior.
With Canino out of the rotation after suffering a right arm injury which was “unrelated to volleyball”, fellow sophomore Shevana Laput carried the fight for the Taft-based squad with a team-high 21 points off 18 attacks, two blocks and a service ace in the four-set victory.
Veteran spiker Alleiah Malaluan contributed 17 points highlighted by 16 attacks, while Maicah Larroza, who replaced Soreño in the fourth set, added 12 markers of her own.
Amid speculations on social media the past few days, the 20-year-old outside hitter showed up to the venue with the team.
Baby Jyne Soreño then replaced Canino in the starting lineup as she will indefinitely be out with “no timeline for her return.”
La Salle evidently struggled without Canino inside the court before escaping UP in the extended opening set, 26-24.
However, Canino’s absence truly manifested itself in the third set that saw La Salle squander a 17-7 advantage where it ultimately gave away 11 errors.
The Lady Spikers were actually at the match point ahead, 24-20, but visibly displayed complacency with the Fighting Maroons capitalizing on it with a 6-0 finishing kick to stay alive.
In the fourth set, it was La Salle’s turn to play catch-up after trailing for the most of it, 20-23, before Malaluan’s back-to-back hits locked the game at 24-all.
Niña Ytang then tallied her 10th point off a quick attack to keep UP ahead, but Malaluan got back on her feet to put the match in another deadlock.
Careful not to make the same blunder, Larroza fired a shot from the back row before setter Julia Coronel blocked Jona Monares to put the match to rest.
It was La Salle’s first four-set win after only taking victories either through a sweep or a five-setter, which was also its sixth straight win since losing to top seed UST in the first round.
Despite the commendable fightback, the Fighting Maroons remained as the cellar dwellers after sinking further in a 1-9 hole following three consecutive losses in the second round. — Nikole Javier
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Credit belongs to: www.mb.com.ph
