Ever since De La Salle University won the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball championship, their rematch against National University has become much-anticipated.
Of course, it officially became a rivalry after the Lady Bulldogs got the Season 84 chip before the Lady Spikers responded in the following year.
With the history between the two powerhouse squads, Shevana Laput and Amie Provido could not have picked a better time to produce their best games this Season 86.
They combined for 34 points as La Salle nipped NU in five thrilling sets, 15-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-19, 15-12, in front of more than 13,000 fans in attendance at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Saturday evening.
“I guess it was the pride. They were second last year, so we have to show that we won that championship for a reason,” said Laput after the Lady Spikers rose to solo second at 6-1.
“That’s also just playing my best, doing my game,” added the 6-foot-2 opposite spiker.
Laput unloaded a team-high 20 points on 18 attacks and two blocks. Meanwhile, Provido delivered 14 points including five of the team’s 13 blocks in the two-hour, 19-minute affair.
Provido, the sophomore middle blocker, shared that it was time for her to finally have a good game after her subpar performances in the past.
In their previous game against winless University of the Philippines, Provido only managed to get two points. Her previous personal season-high was 11 points against University of Santo Tomas, their lone loss.
“Sobrang saya po. Hindi rin ako makapaniwala sa performance ko today,” said Provido.
“Actually, pinanghuhugutan ko rin talaga yung mga few games namin kasi parang sobrang baba po ng nilaro ko, so pinanghugutan ko po siya and dala ko po ngayon,” she continued.
