Adversity poured down on De La Salle University when top gunner Angel Canino was injured in a freak accident during the Holy Week break of the UAAP.
The Lady Spikers struggled in their first two games without Canino despite still grabbing the wins.
They needed four sets against the listless University of the Philippines and five sets against the lowly University of the East.
Then they hit their lowest point when their dominance against modern-day rival National University came to an end last Sunday.
La Salle folded in four sets, 25-22, 23-25, 16-25, 22-25.
The Lady Bulldogs’ win marked the first time they had defeated the Lady Spikers since their championship clincher back in Season 84. They then lost five straight matches.
On Wednesday against Adamson University, another hardship hit La Salle.
Jyne Soreño, Canino’s replacement in the starting lineup, went down late in the first set due to an apparent left arm injury after a collision with teammate libero Lyka De Leon while attempting to dig a ball.
She did not return to the game and went back to the bench wearing an arm sling.
With all the problems seeming to rain down on the Lady Spikers, Shevana Laput and the team remembered to never let go of the team’s main strength – the system of Ramil de Jesus.
“For the team, we just need to listen to what the coaches are saying and stick to our system, and no matter what happens, no matter if there’s an injury or if we lose a set, if we go back to our system which has worked for over 20 years, we can win this,” said Laput.
“If we give our all, if we give our effort, we play with our hearts as well as with our minds, we can do it.”
Laput has stepped up in Canino’s four-game absence so far, scoring 21 points each against UP, UE, and NU. Then she unloaded a personal season-best 24 points against Adamson.
De Jesus’ system has proven to be one of the most successful in Philippine collegiate volleyball.
He has amassed 12 championships, eight silvers, and one bronze in his 23 seasons with La Salle, only missing the podium twice.
And that’s what deputy coach Noel Orcullo and the staff have been continuously emphasizing to the Lady Spikers.
“Lagi lang naman naming sinasabi sa kanila, stick to the system, wag tayong mawawala eh,” said Orcullo.
“As long as nandiyan kayo sa sistema, gagalaw tayo ng maayos eh. Pero kapag tayo lumihis doon, ayun ang nagiging resulta – like for example, yung first set, nawala lahat ng inaral namin at tinraining namin. Kumbaga naghanapan eh.”
