De La Salle University completed a 14-game elimination round sweep on Sunday to advance to the UAAP Season 88 collegiate women’s volleyball finals.
The Lady Spikers secured an outright Finals berth after surviving NU, 27-25, 15-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13, in front of 19,419 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Aside from chasing its 13th title in league history, La Salle will also look to exorcise the ghosts of its past.
The last time the Lady Spikers went 14-0 in the eliminations was in Season 76 (2013–14), when they also waited in the Finals as NU, Ateneo, and Adamson battled through a stepladder semifinals.
However, that dominant run did not translate into ultimate glory. La Salle fell to the Alyssa Valdez-led Ateneo in four games under the old thrice-to-beat format.
“Siguro yung nightmare namin nung Season 76, talagang ayaw na namin maulit,” said long-time La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
“Siguro itong nangyari ngayon na nag-waiting kami for championship, siguro talagang pagtatrabahuhan namin nang husto.”
La Salle will have roughly two weeks to prepare before the Finals begin, as the elimination round concludes on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
A stepladder semifinal or a playoff game, if necessary, will follow among the remaining contenders.
Rust could be a concern for the Lady Spikers, but their coaching staff remains fully aware of it, still carrying the lessons and pain of Season 76.
“Kumbaga, ‘yung pokus talaga hindi namin aalisin. Kung ano ‘yung inumpisahan namin, kung ano ‘yung goal namin, doon kami. Hindi kami bibitaw bawat isa — kung ano ‘yung goal ng coach, goal ng players doon kami,” said Orcullo, the lead assistant to Ramil de Jesus.
“Kung paano namin binuo ito, kung paano namin inumpisahan, ganoon din namin tatapusin.”
NU and Adamson have already secured semifinal spots, while University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University are battling for the final berth.
While the other teams fight for survival, the Lady Spikers will stay at the Enrique M. Razon Sports Center to keep themselves sharp for the challenge awaiting them in the best-of-three Finals.
“Yun din naman yung sinabi namin sa kanila: kung ito masi-sweep natin, kailangan din natin magtrabaho pa ng triple effort. Hindi tayo puwedeng mag-relax dahil lang na-sweep na natin, magpapa-easy-easy na tayo. Kung ano yung training natin na ginagawa, siguro, titriplehin natin yung effort na gagawin,” Orcullo concluded.
