Two Alas Pilipinas stalwarts are heading for a marquee showdown, as Angel Canino and the unbeaten De La Salle University brace for a stern challenge from Shaina Nitura and the surging Adamson University in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
The Lady Spikers have remained flawless through their first five matches, standing as the lone unbeaten squad in the eight-team field. Meanwhile, the Lady Falcons enter the final matchweek of the first round with significant momentum after pulling off a straight-set stunner against the UST Golden Tigresses last Saturday — a triumph that pushed them to a 3-2 record and a share of fourth place.
Beyond the team stakes, the clash highlights the growing rivalry — built on respect and camaraderie — between two of the country’s promising volleyball icons. Canino currently ranks fifth in the league’s scoring chart with 73 points, while Nitura leads the pack with 101 points through five games.
Both Canino and Nitura suited up together for Alas Pilipinas Women over the offseason, but friendship will take a backseat when they step onto the Taraflex Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
For the Season 85 Rookie-MVP and champion, she expects nothing less than a fierce battle from an Adamson side that has grown into a more dangerous squad this season. She also acknowledged the Lady Falcons’ depth and the improvement of Nigerian wing spiker Frances Mordi.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Siyempre, talagang hindi rin magpapatalo ang Adamson. Malakas din naman silang kalaban talaga. Makikita mo rin talaga sa kanila na matapang talaga sila. Na kahit na hindi sila lamang in that set, pero nakikita mo na gusto rin talaga nilang manalo,” Canino shared.
“Marami rin sila talaga nadagdag na players na alam mo ‘yon, willing to contribute talaga. Hindi lang sa gitna, pero yung previous players nila, pinupursigi talaga nila na makapag-contribute — like [Frances] Mordi. Malaki yung improvement na ginawa ni Mordi from last year to this year. Marami kaming kailangang bantayan.”
However, Canino emphasized that La Salle’s true strength lies in its collective effort, alongside team captain Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, Eshana Nunag, and Lyka de Leon, to overcome a prolific scorer like Nitura.
“Shaina is Shaina, wala na kami masasabi doon. Si Shaina talaga ‘yon. Pero kami, we’re La Salle as a team. Talagang maaasahan yung bawat isa. ‘Yon lang ipapakita namin, kung paano kami gumalaw as a team at kung paano namin ipapakita as a Lady Spiker and kung paano namin irespeto yung kalaban din namin also,” the 22-year-old outside hitter explained.
For her part, Nitura remains focused on preparation rather than the hype surrounding her highly-anticipated duel against Canino, keeping to the mindset Adamson has followed in Season 88 in a bid to return to the Final Four.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“I think we’ll focus on our side, which is back to training, and focus on what we can do to slow them down. Para kung ano ‘man maging resulta nung game na ‘yon, God’s will na lang din talaga,” the 21-year-old outside hitter shared.
What will truly spell the difference against a great team like the Lady Spikers is the level of consistency the Lady Falcons will show against the Ramil de Jesus-mentored squad.
“Since then naman talaga, ‘yon naman ang prinapractice namin na no matter what the situation is, we just have to keep the locked-in, focused [mindset] and just give our all and yung work namin is momentum up palagi,” Nitura explained.
“We always remind each other na paangat lang, huwag maging diesel. ‘Yon lang rineremind ko as their team captain, na do not be diesel, para hindi maging roller coaster yung pinapakita namin every game. If kaya i-maintain or even to go up, we’ll go up.”
#WATCH: SHAINA IS SHAINA, BUT WE’RE LA SALLE 🏹
Angel Canino braces for a tough matchup against Shaina Nitura and Adamson in #UAAPSeason88 🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/YIMn4K57s5
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/A94ZWP4tsh
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 7, 2026
