Second seed De La Salle University bounced back after a shaky second set to eliminate third-ranked University of Santo Tomas, 25-22, 11-25, 25-21, 25-21, and punch a ticket to the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Finals against National University on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The championship showdown will be a rematch of the Season 85 Finals, where the Lady Spikers dethroned the Lady Bulldogs. This time, La Salle will aim to rewrite the same story and capture back-to-back titles.
Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals series is set for March 11 at the historic Big Dome.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Medyo happy. Medyo happy kasi slow start eh, ang tagal makapag-adjust. Eventually, nagpaikot kaagad ako ng setter, so nakita ko naman na nag-work naman, and ‘yun na ‘yun. Ine-expect ko pa na mas makagalaw pa sa susunod na game. Marami pa kaming dapat ayusin,” said La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus after the match, which drew 11,221 fans.
The Lady Spikers are making their 21st championship appearance and are gunning for a 13th title — every one of them under De Jesus’ legendary leadership.
UST seemed to have seized momentum after dominating the second set, 25-11, showing flashes of their championship-caliber form. But La Salle displayed true grit, quickly regaining composure in the third.
With the score tied at 20, Shevana Laput scored three of the next five points — including two crucial blocks — as the Lady Spikers closed the frame with a 5-1 run. Angel Canino capped it with an off-the-block spike off Em Banagua’s outstretched arms.
The Golden Tigresses opened the fourth set aggressively, jumping to a 4-0 lead. But La Salle responded with poise, gradually pulling ahead to a 20-16 advantage through the efforts of Alleiah Malaluan and Amie Provido.
Still refusing to back down, UST fired back with a 4-0 rally sparked by Regina Jurado and Angge Poyos to level the frame at 20-all. But that turned out to be their final surge.
Provido, Canino, and Lilay Del Castillo combined for four straight points to bring La Salle to match point, 24-20. A successful block touch challenge by UST on a Poyos attack delayed the inevitable, 21-24, but the Season 86 Rookie of the Year served the ball short on the next play — handing La Salle the victory after two hours and 16 minutes.
“Siyempre ‘yung UST hindi rin talaga madaling kalaban — as in, they’re known din talaga na grabe ang depensa nila, tapos hindi rin sila basta-basta naggi-give up,” said Canino, who led La Salle with 19 points.
“Kailangan talaga na pusuan rin namin kasi gusto rin ng UST eh, they really want na makabalik din ng Finals. But siyempre, mas ginusto rin namin kasi we have a goal.”
Provido provided a solid supporting role with 15 points off 11 attacks, three aces, and a block. Laput also had 14 points, while Malaluan posted a triple-threat stat line of nine points, 15 digs, and 10 receptions.
Libero Lyka De Leon anchored the floor defense with 20 digs and 16 receptions.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
UST settled for the bronze medal, one spot lower than last season, but will look forward to a stronger campaign next year with the potential return of injured key players Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula.
Poyos and Jurado led UST’s fight with 22 and 21 points, respectively, but the Tigresses struggled to find a reliable third option. The next best scorer was Pia Abbu with just five points.
Senior libero Detdet Pepito, possibly playing her final game in a UST uniform, finished with 25 excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions — leaving everything on the floor for the Tigresses.
