Amie Provido delivered her best performance yet as De La Salle University edged Adamson University, 25-19, 17-25, 25-23, 25-23, to remain unbeaten in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
The 5-foot-11 middle blocker carried the Lady Spikers as they clawed back from a 13-18 deficit in the fourth set.
Provido scored four points during La Salle’s 8-3 run to tie the game at 22-all, with Shevana Laput—quiet most of the match—adding three points.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
After the sides exchanged points to reach 23-all, the Lady Spikers turned to their wing spikers, with Shane Reterta and Angel Canino hammering the final two points to seal the win in just over two hours.
“Ang ipinaalala namin nung first three sets, ‘yung blocking namin nawala bigla. Nadisorganize, hindi naka-establish ‘yung blocking so thankful nung fourth set gumana. Bumalik ‘yung blocking. Kay Amie crucial ‘yung mga block na nagawa niya,” said La Salle deputy coach Noel Orcullo after the Lady Spikers improved their spotless record to 8-0.
La Salle, the best blocking team after the first round, struggled at the net in the first three sets, recording only three blocks. But they turned it up in the fourth, notching six, with Provido accounting for four alone.
The Lady Spikers needed one fewer set to beat Adamson in their head-to-head matchup compared to their first-round encounter, which went five sets, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 13-25, 15-5.
Provido finished with 18 points, including nine in the fourth set, on 12-of-19 attacks, five blocks, and an ace.
“It was really a tough game. Grabe nilaban talaga namin. Thankful ako kasi nakatulong ako sa team and ‘yun din kasi ang role ko as a senior, I really need to step up for the team,” said Provido.
Canino led La Salle with 21 points and 15-of-24 excellent receptions, while Laput added 10 points despite an 8-of-39 attacking output.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
For Adamson, Nitura paced the Lady Falcons with 23 points, 24 excellent receptions, and eight digs, while Nigerian Frances Mordi contributed 21 points, 13 receptions, and six digs.
Joy Aseo added 11 points, and Fhei Sagaysay dished out 30 excellent sets, but Adamson slipped to 4-4, holding solo fifth place.
Both squads will return to action on Wednesday at the Big Dome, with La Salle facing University of Santo Tomas and Adamson taking on Ateneo de Manila University.
