Angel Canino opened her UAAP collegiate career on cloud nine, serving as one of the catalysts in De La Salle University’s championship run in Season 85.
The Lady Spikers lost only one game that year en route to the title, with the 5-foot-11 outside hitter eventually being named Rookie–MVP in 2023.
However, Canino and La Salle found themselves tested in the next two seasons, missing the Finals in Season 86 before falling to National University in the championship series in Season 87.
On Wednesday, the Lady Spikers delivered a masterclass, scoring a 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 victory in Game 1 to move on the verge of the Season 88 crown.
For Canino, it was also a moment of personal redemption after leading the team through a difficult stretch last year as captain.
“Ako, gustong-gusto ko talagang matapos ito nang magandang tingnan yung La Salle. Yun lang talaga,” said Canino shortly after the win in front of 15,000 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Kasi as a rookie before, tapos nangyari yung Season 86, nangyari yung Season 87 na gustong-gusto talaga naming makabawi pero hindi namin nagawa nung Season 87. It was under me as a captain,” she added.
Now co-leading the team alongside fellow seniors Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Lyka de Leon, Canino has reinvented herself after two heartbreaking seasons.
She approached Game 1 with more patience and composure, even as the Lady Spikers found themselves in early deficits in the first and third sets.
The Season 85 Rookie–MVP finished with 17 points on 15 spikes, one block, and one ace, while Provido and Laput added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
“So ngayon talaga, ako, I’m trying to be patient with myself, and I’m trying to be patient with my teammates talaga. I think yun yung isang magdadala sa amin patungong championship talaga, na hindi lang basta-basta skill ang kailangan sa loob ng court kundi paano talaga namin dalhin yung sarili namin para matapos nang maganda itong season na ito,” said Canino.
Game 2 is on Saturday, still at the MOA Arena.
Despite the strong start, Canino reminded the Lady Spikers that the job is far from finished.
“Siguro pagkatapos nito, ang gagawin lang namin is to remind everyone not to be on cloud nine and to focus kung anong goal talaga namin. Kasi gusto rin talaga namin matapos ‘tong season na ‘to na maganda,” she said.
“Ito, one step closer lang ito, pero hindi pa dito natatapos yung laro talaga.”
