De La Salle University cruised to its fifth-straight win with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-18 victory over Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Saturday evening.
The Lady Spikers rose to 7-1, just behind undefeated University of Santo Tomas. This was also their sixth straight sets win of the season.
“Going into the second round, yun ang sinabi namin sa mga bata na hindi pupwedeng mag-kampante dahil lahat ng team naka-adjust na, so talagang magiging mahirap,” said La Salle deputy coach Noel Orcullo.
“Sinabi lang namin sa kanila kung ano yung inaral natin against FEU, kailangan mai-apply natin.”
The Lady Spikers created the necessary separation with the Lady Tamaraws in the third by scoring eight unanswered points, topped by Angel Canino’s service ace,for a 15-7 lead.
Reigning MVP Canino led La Salle anew with 15 points on 14 attacks and an ace to go with 10 excellent receptions.
“I would say na hindi pa po ako satisfied (sa performance namin), but this is a good start for me and the team coming to the second round. Pero ayaw ko pong huminto sa naging performance ko today,” said captain-setter Julia Coronel, who had 16 excellent sets to go with two blocks.
Thea Gagate made 10 points in the win as well, while Alleiah Malaluan got eight. The duo of Amie Provido and Jyne Soreño chipped in seven each.
La Salle will shoot for six straight wins come April 4 against University of the Philippines.
The Lady Tamaraws slipped to 4-4 but remained at fourth and two games above joint-fifth Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila University, and University of the East.
Congo’s Faida Bakanke and Gerzel Petallo tallied 13 points each for FEU, which will try to bounce back against Ateneo de Manila University on April 4 too.
