A great season deserves a fitting ending.
That was exactly what the La Salle Lady Spikers gave to their adoring fans as they put up a courageous performance to complete an incredible comeback and become UAAP women’s volleyball champions again before some 20,000 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday night.
Given a ghost of a chance to complete a two-game sweep after dropping the first two sets, the Lady Spikers willed their way, coming through with defensive gems in the crunch to pull off an epic 19-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-10 win.
“Tyinaga ng mga bata. Kahit pa sabihing 5 sets, mas masarap manalo nang pinaghirapan mo,” said assistant coach Noel Orcullo of the team’s 12th title.
Tough and dramatic the title win was, the Lady Spikers displayed the true character of a champion – resilient and daring.
They best typified that in the third frame when they suddenly rediscovered the fire that enabled them to dominate the double-round elims by winning it convincingly.
They continued their spirited show in the next frame – thanks to Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, Leiah Malaluan, Thea Gagate and setter Mars Alba – to force a deciding fifth.
With momentum of their side, the Lady Spikers rushed to a 5-1 lead, but NU fought back with Alyssa Solomon’s impressive performance, tying the score at 7-all.
However, the Lady Spikers regained control and took a 10-9 lead.
Back-to-back blocks by Gagate on Mhicaela Belen and Solomon sealed the win for Lady Spikers who shed tears of joy while their supporters whooped it up and cameras start flashing in an already electric atmosphere.
Fittingly, Alba was adjudged Finals MVP with 16 excellent sets, in addition to contributing three points
Canino, who before the game was crowned Rookie-MVP winner, led the balanced attack with 19 points, including 12 spikes, six aces, and a block, while Gagate contributed 17 points through 12 attacks and five blocks. Laput and Fifi Sharma finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively, underscoring the team’s well-balanced attack this time.
That negated Solomon’s game-high 34 points, including 31-of-62 spikes and three aces.
Furthermore, the absence of Sheena Toring, who was unable to play due to a partial ACL tear in her left knee, added to NU’s challenges.
The Lady Spikers narrowly escaped with a win in Game 1 last Sunday, with a score of 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13.
De La Salle remained undefeated against NU in all four games this season, reversing the outcome from last year when the Lady Bulldogs were the ones who didn’t lose a match against the Lady Spikers.
