As both Angel Canino and Shevana Laput endured their share of struggles, Amie Provido stepped up to embody the “puso” that De La Salle University needed to complete an elimination round sweep in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
With La Salle trailing at crucial junctures in both the fourth and fifth sets, Provido delivered in the clutch, powering the Lady Spikers to a hard-fought 27-25, 15-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13 victory over National University in front of 19,419 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday evening.
The Season 87 Best Middle Blocker finished with 15 points on 10 attacks and five blocks, alongside three excellent digs, leading La Salle to an elimination round sweep and an outright Finals berth. It marked the Lady Spikers’ first sweep since Season 76 (2013–2014) and their 22nd appearance in the UAAP women’s volleyball Finals.
NU, which led 2-1 in sets, was on the verge of extending the match after taking a 23-21 advantage in the fourth set. However, Provido anchored La Salle’s comeback, scoring on a block and a quick hit to force a 23-all deadlock and eventually extend the match to a deciding fifth set.
In the final frame, with La Salle trailing 7-9, Provido once again came through, scoring off an attack before rejecting Alexa Mata at the net to give the Lady Spikers a 10-9 lead — one they would not relinquish en route to the victory.
In the face of adversity, Provido embraced the responsibility of steadying the team. And she drew the motivation from her role in keeping the Lady Spikers composed and energized in their push for history.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko na during yung mga tough moments, parang gusto ko na isa ako sa magpapakalma sa team at magbigay ng fire,” the 22-year-old middle blocker said postgame.
“Yun yung lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko na kalmahan ko lang, kalma lang dahil kailangan ko tulungan yung team,” she added.
Provido also pointed to La Salle’s setbacks in Seasons 86 and 87, where they fell in the Final Four to University of Santo Tomas and were swept by NU in the championship series, as motivation for their resurgence.
For her, the biggest difference in their flawless elimination run — especially in their gritty win over NU — was discipline, a key factor in the Ramil de Jesus-mentored squad’s drive for a 13th UAAP women’s volleyball crown.
“For me naman, yung disiplina. Nakikita sa loob ng court talaga na malaki yung pinagbago sa bawat isa inside and outside the court,” the Pototan, Iloilo native said.
“Disiplinado lahat, ready mag-step up lahat, parang ‘yon yung pinaka naging factor for us kung paano namin napanalo yung game ngayon. Linaban ng lahat at nag-step up lahat, and hindi kami dapat huminto. We have to keep going,” she added.
Looking ahead to a tougher challenge in the best-of-three Finals, Provido stressed that La Salle’s work is far from done, vowing that the team will raise its level even further regardless of their opponent in the championship series.
“Hindi naging madali yung laban namin, pero nakita rin na pinusuan talaga ng team. Walang tumigil hanggang sa dulo. Alam namin na magiging mahirap yung mga susunod pa,” she said.
“Finals na kami ngayon, so need na naming mag-triple effort pa. Kailangan naming paghandaan pa sila kasi hindi basta-basta kalaban ang NU.”
