La Salle attempts to make another statement while Adamson is out to try usher in a new era as they lock horns in the opening salvo of the 2023 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals finale Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Action erupts at 4 p.m. with the Lady Spikers and the Lady Falcons eager to draw first blood in the short best-of-three finals of the event presented by Eurotel and Victory Liner and held in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
At 2 p.m, the University of Santo Tomas and and University of Perpetual Help System Dalta clash in the bronze-medal match, also under a best-of-three format.
Being the reigning UAAP queens, the Lady Spikers are understandably installed heavy favorites to win the series.
But the Lady Falcons – now under new mentor in JP Yude – are out to prove something.
The Lady Spikers, sans UAAP Rookie-MVP Angel Canino, swept their way into the Final Four before needing five sets to tame the UST while the Lady Falcons have yet to drop a single set in the entire 12-team SSL tourney, including a sweep of Perpetual in the other semis pairing.
Aside from Canino, La Salle is also without ace libero Justine Jazareno while dealing with the graduation of Jolina dela Cruz, Mars Alba and Fifi Sharma. Adamson, for its part, lost a bevy of players led Trisha Tubu and Kate Santiago to the pros.
But even with a different cast, both squads are raring to empty their clips.
Albeit without a string of standouts, La Salle — which also aims to improve on its runner-up finish in the first SSL collegiate pre-season tilt behind champion National U — is still formidable as ever with the twin towers of Shevana Laput and Thea Gagate patrolling the net as well as Alleiah Malaluan spearheading their attack.
The troika led by Malaluan headlined their epic comeback win against the Golden Tigresses from 1-2 set deficit, marked by a total of 10 match points saved in the fourth set and the extended clincher that culminated at 26-24 from the usual race-to-15 duel.