Rookie sensation Angel Canino will have her first taste of the De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University rivalry in the UAAP come Sunday.
Although admitting that there might be a little more preparation for the Blue Eagles, the 5-foot-11 outside spiker will treat it like any other game.
Canino had already faced Ateneo but it was during the Shakey’s Super League quarterfinals that saw the Lady Spikers dominate in straight sets at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
This time, it’s much different with the venue being at the 15,000-seater SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Syempre sobrang iba yung UAAP kesa sa preseason po na league so pinaghahandaan po talaga namin as a team,” said the 19-year-old spiker out of Bacolod.
“Lahat naman po ng team pinaghahandaan namin pero yeah, since dati pa may rivalry nga, mas pinaghahandaan namin sila and alam namin na ready po kami.”
The Lady Spikers were coming off a five-setter challenge against University of Santo Tomas before sweeping University of the Philippines on Wednesday.
And Canino was off to a hot start. She dropped 18 points and 11 excellent receptions against the Golden Tigresses, while having 13 points against the Fighting Maroons.
Meanwhile, Ateneo defeated University of the East, 25-17, 25-23, 24-26, 25-10, for its first win after bowing to National University in its opener.
“Ganon pa rin naman eh lahat naman pinaghahandaan namin even sino man yung dumating, paghahandaan pa rin namin,” said La Salle interim head coach Noel Orcullo on their preparation against their rivals.
“Ipupush pa rin namin yung mga bata hanggang sa limit nila para pag papunta sa second round, kailangan pataas nang pataas yung laro.”
