SHEVANA LAPUT’S availability remains to be up within the air as De La Salle University (DLSU) gears up for a much-awaited rivalry match against Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) in a bid to increase an unbeaten run within the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball this Sunday on the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-2 spiker missed the DLSU Lady Spikers’ easy win against the UP Fighting Maroons on Wednesday as a result of undisclosed illness and the team remains to be waiting on go-signal for her return.
“Shevana is sick. We are going to wait for the doctors findings if she okay for the following game,” said coach Ramil de Jesus ahead of the massive clash against the ADMU Blue Eagles.
Ms. Laput, sister of PBA player James from Magnolia, has stamped her class because the early MVP contender with the league-best average of twenty-two.5 points in La Salle’s first two wins against Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of Santo Tomas (UST) before being sidelined.
Without her, La Salle still took care of business by scoring a 25-12, 25-15, 25-19 romp of erstwhile unbeaten UP with former MVP Angel Canino and middle blocker Amie Provido leading the best way alongside newbies Shane Reterta and Mikee Santos.
Not only did La Salle keep an ideal slate at 3-0 to affix rival and reigning champion National University (NU) for a share of lead nevertheless it also maintained an ideal campaign without dropping a single set (9-0).
Before the Fighting Maroons, the Lady Spikers also drubbed the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 25-19, 25-14, 27-25 and the UST Golden Tigresses, 25-14, 25-15, 26-24, to depart the NU Lady Bulldogs because the only contender left on their checklist for a roaring start to date.
Against Ateneo, Mr. de Jesus brims with confidence that his wards can hold the fort with or without Ms. Laput.
La Salle had a bridesmaid finish to NU last season to go 1-2 of their finals trilogy after winning in Season 85. This 12 months, La Salle’s looking just like the champion team that it has been through a long time. — John Bryan Ulanday