La Salle’s last shot at an ideal UAAP season led to heartbreak—and a few members of that squad were around on Wednesday to assist this batch of Lady Spikers keep their unbeaten run intact.
“It wasn’t like they were telling us exactly what to do to avoid those sorts of heartbreaks,” Angel Canino, the La Salle star hitter, said. “It was more about motivating us, reminding us that we will do it, that they’re there to support us, and that they imagine in us.”
Canino and her teammates took step one toward deleting that old memory.
Shaking off the results of a 17-day hiatus, La Salle moved a game closer to an ideal title run after blanking defending champion National University, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18, in Game 1 of the Season 88 women’s volleyball best-of-three championship series at Mall of Asia Arena.
A win in Saturday’s Game 2 won’t only end a three-year drought but in addition cap La Salle’s unblemished run to the crown.
On a day of slaying ghosts, Canino fired 17 points within the dominant victory, which got here amid memories of the last time the Lady Spikers were in contention for an ideal season.
That was in Season 76, when the Taft-based school swept its approach to an outright title berth, only to be waylaid by fierce rival Ateneo and a young rising star named Alyssa Valdez.
“Season 76 was a nightmare. It still haunts the team. Back then, we swept the eliminations with Aby (Maraño) still leading the team, but Ateneo fought all the way in which within the finals,” coach Ramil de Jesus recalled.
CJ Saga and Lexi Tatlonghari, who played for De Jesus that season, were present to cheer on the present Lady Spikers.
“It makes a giant difference when former Lady Spikers—our ates (older sisters)—come as much as us and show that form of trust. We actually appreciate it because, as players, we are inclined to overthink sometimes. So after they tell us, ‘We’re here, we imagine in you,’ it means loads and really helps us.”
De Jesus doubled down on the teachings from that season to make certain his current team understood the duty at hand.
“I told them I don’t want that to occur again. Yearly, we prepare for whoever the defending champion is. Now we’re back in this example … Not everyone gets this chance, so we’ve got to profit from it,” he said.
Due to its eliminations sweep, La Salle had to attend 17 days before seeing motion again, as teams needed to play a stepladder semifinals for the fitting to face the Lady Spikers within the championship.
But after getting through a testy first set, it was clear La Salle didn’t must take care of rust as they moved closer to their thirteenth championship.
“I told the team that the stepladder format is [also] tough [for us] because the opposite teams get … used to the pressure while we’re resting,” said De Jesus.
“So I told the players we just must match that intensity. Earlier, I noticed we began a bit slow, but later within the set we adjusted and kept up. By then, they were handling the pressure higher.”
Shane Reterta also delivered the products for La Salle with 11 points, 23 receptions and nine digs. Amie Provido finished with 12 points, highlighted by 4 kill blocks, as captain Shevana Laput finished with 11 points.