Shevana Laput delivered her best performance as a member of De La Salle University in the UAAP on Wednesday night — and making it even sweeter, it came against archrival Ateneo de Manila University.
The 20-year-old opposite spiker erupted for 25 points, tallying 19-of-41 attacks, three blocks, and three service aces, leading the Lady Spikers to a 25-15, 25-14, 20-25, 25-19 victory over the Blue Eagles at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
As Lasallians, they always take pride in representing their school — but that pride reaches another level when facing their longtime rivals.
“When we play against Ateneo, it’s more than just playing their team. It’s playing against their school, representing our school, and the whole Lasallian community,” Laput shared.
“For sure, there’s an added bit of pressure and an added bit of pride that we need to show on the court.”
While this may have been her best scoring game in the UAAP so far, Laput has consistently stepped up for the Lady Spikers, serving as a reliable force alongside Season 85 Rookie MVP Angel Canino.
Before this match, Laput ranked eighth in scoring with 75 points across five games, recording 59 spikes, eight blocks, and eight service aces.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Her emergence as one of La Salle’s go-to players, especially when Canino is closely guarded, began when she fully embraced her role on the team.
“Personally, last season, especially in the second round, I felt like I had already started stepping into that role — being one of the go-to players, someone my team trusts and relies on,” said Laput, who was a track and field athlete before joining the Lady Spikers.
“It wasn’t that big of a change for me, but now, nearing the end of the first round, I feel like I’ve finally found my groove. I’ve connected more with my teammates, and I’ve really stepped up into that role of being an ate—someone who can be trusted on the court.”
Now, Laput and the Lady Spikers aim to keep their momentum going after a shaky start to the season. They have won three straight games, improving to a 4-2 record and tying FEU for third place.
La Salle looks to close out the first round on a four-game winning streak when they face FEU on Saturday.
#WATCH: While the La Salle-Ateneo rivalry still fuels the fire, Coach Ramil De Jesus is focused on the growth of his Lady Spikers in every match 🏐
📹 @ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/Mn6WBHEgRL
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 12, 2025
