By NIKOLE JAVIER
La Salle shrugged off Far Eastern’s University’s spirited challenge in the third set to score a 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 win in the first round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Reigning rookie-MVP Angelo Canino quietly led all scorers with 13 points highlighted by 11 kills for the second time early into the season, despite admittedly not being satisfied with her own performance.
Shevana Laput ably supported Canino with 10 points off eight attacks and two blocks.
New starting libero Lyka De Leon was all over the floor for La Salle as she tallied 16 excellent digs and 12 receptions to steady the squad’s ship in the face of FEU’s gallant assault.
Though the Lady Spikers led from start until, the Taft-based squad rued its
unforced errors that saw them waste 22 points.
Just when La Salle was about to pull away in the middle of the third set with a convincing 18-12 advantage, the Lady Spikers were hounded by their own faulty offense that allowed FEU to pull itself within just one, 22-21, off Faida Bakanke’s through-the-block hit.
Before they could completely lose sight of the victory, though, Laput came through with a powerful crosscourt shot before Canino iced the game.
“Medyo nag-struggle kasi sobrang erratic. Parang tentative ‘yung galaw nila. So pinaalalahanan lang namin sila na bumalik sa system,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
“Actually nakukulangan talaga ako. Lahat naman kami sa team nakukulangan pa sa galaw namin which means kailangan namin mag doble kayod pa talaga sa training. Kasi marami pa kaming lapses at marami pa kaming errors napwedeng maiwasan inside the court,” said Canino.
Gerzel Petallo paced the Lady Tamaraws with a dismal seven-point outing to carry the team’s fight in the losing cause.
