By NIKOLE JAVIER
La Salle downed University of Santo Tomas in another thriller of a contest, 26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 25-19, in their Final Four affair in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, May 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Spikers needed an extra set to exact revenge against their lone elimination round tormentor Golden Tigresses and, in turn, book their 20th finals appearance.
As expected super rookie Angel Canino was again the star of the show.
The Bacolod pride pumped in a team-high 19 points on 18 attacks and a service ace, while Jolina dela Cruz chipped in 10 points for a La Salle side that came into the game enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage over UST.
La Salle and defending champion National University earned bonuses for finishing 1-2 at the close of the double-round elims. The Lady Bulldogs were still playing with the Adamson Lady Falcons at presstime.
Apart from the offensive fireworks provided by Canino and dela Cruz, the Lady Spikers also played solid defensively – particularly in the fourth frame.
Justine Jazareno best typified La Salle’s awesome defense after tallying 22 excellent digs and 16 receptions.
La Salle crawled back from an early 3-0 deficit in the opening set and kept itself within the striking distance with UST until the 12th deadlock of the game.
Dela Cruz and Laput then scored back-to-back points to put the Lady Spikers at set point, 24-22, but Eya Laure retaliated furiously with two successive crosscourt attacks to tie the set once more at 24-all.
Canino then stepped up with an off-the-block kill before a triple block was put up to deny Laure at the net.
The second set was no different as both teams continued to exchange fiery attacks, with the Lady Spikers pulling away late, 24-20, after a Canino point.
La Salle then turned to its time-tested defense in the fourth to finally take the fight out of the Tigresses.
Laure and Hernandez paced the Lady Tigresses with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
