By NIKOLE JAVIER
Playing without reigning Rookie of the Year-Most Valuable Player Angel Canino, defending champion La Salle needed to work extra hard in turning back University of the Philippines, 26-24, 25-18, 24-26, 27-25, in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Thursday, April 4, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With Canino nursing a right arm injury, the limelight fell on charming Shevana Laput who produced a team-high 21 points off 18 attacks, two blocks and a service ace in the four-set victory.
Veteran Alleiah Malaluan and Maicah Larroza also delivered, contributing 17 and 12 points, respectively, as the Lady Spikers hiked their record to 8-1 to remain second behind idle University of Santo Tomas.
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 UST, which booked the first semifinal ticket off a four-set win over Adamson Lady Falcons a day prior.
La Salle evidently struggled without Canino inside the court before escaping UP in the extended opening set, 26-24, before eventually taking a two-set lead.
Canino’s absence was strongly felt 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, falling behind 23-20, 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.
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 UST in the first round.
Despite the commendable fightback, the Fighting Maroons remained at the cellar with a 1-9 mark.