By MARK REY MONTEJO
De La Salle University star Angel Canino shrugged off the dizziness she felt after colliding with her teammate Shevana Laput in the fourth set before coach Ramil de Jesus delivered a powerful message during their final timeout in the fifth frame.
“Huminga tayo ng malalim… hindi pwede nananaig ‘yong takot, eto na ‘yan ‘yong presence of mind, mabilis nalang ito,” said de Jesus as University of Santo Tomas captured a 13-12 lead. “Kailangan lang natin ng tiwala sa sarili.”
Those words surely gave the Lady Spikers the boost they needed as they carved out a dramatic 15-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-20, 16-14 victory over the Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament Saturday evening, March 29.
Laput and Canino unloaded the biggest hits for La Salle to avoid a season sweep against UST and improve their record to 6-3.
The Tigresses, on the other hand, continued to struggle after suffering their third consecutive loss and now hold a 5-4 slate at fifth spot.
Canino, who was immediately escorted to the dugout, unleashed another superb performance for DLSU as she posted 27 points off 24 attacks, two blocks, and one ace along with 13 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions.
Laput, who also delivered in the crunch moments after the game, finished with 16 points on 15 kills and one block while Amie Provido backed them up with 12 points – including the game-winning block. Alleiah Malaluan added 10.
Mikole Reyes made her presence felt as La Salle’s newest playmaker after tallying 26 excellent sets with six excellent digs on top of four points.
Regina Jurado pumped in 22 points while Angge Poyos had a quiet 12-point output for the struggling Tigresses. Mabeth Hilongo contributed nine which all went down the drain.
Ateneo struck back at Adamson, 25-23, 25-14, 25-23, to clinch its third consecutive win.
After succumbing in their first encounter via a five-set reverse-sweep, the Blue Eagles seemed to have fixed their problem and found ways to defuse Shai Nitura and deny the Lady Falcons.
Skipper Lyann De Guzman went all out anew for Ateneo as she unleashed 12 points with 13 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions. AC Miner backed her up with 13 points while Taks Fujimoto tallied 17 excellent sets.
The two Atenean hitters connived in the third and led the Blue Eagles’ counter as Adamson’s super rookie Nitura tried to extend the game. Ateneo bowed to Adamson, 21-25, 20-25, 25-12, 25-15, 15-12, last Feb. 16.
Also stepping up for the Sergio Veloso-mentored squad were Zey Pacia (10), Yvana Sulit (7), and freshman Jihan Chuatico (6), as Ateneo improved its record to 4-5, tying with University of the Philippines in the standings.
Nitura was a beast offensively after firing 21 points on 20 kills and one block which went along with seven excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions for the Lady Falcons.
Adamson fell to seventh with a 3-6 win-loss card.
