Lady Spikers tame Bulldogs in 5 sets

Games today (Smart-Araneta Coliseum) 10 a.m. – FEU vs ADMU (men) 12 noon – UP vs UE (men) 2 p.m. – FEU vs ADMU (women) 4 p.m. – UP vs UE (women)

Title-holder La Salle flaunted its championship pedigree in a 15-25, 2519, 18-25, 25-19, 15-12 come-from-behind win over National U in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday in front of 13,848 fans at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Spikers rained arrows on the Bulldogs in the clutch to reverse the tide, ignited by an absurd 9-0 start in the fourth set and punctuated by a tall stand in the tiebreaker for their fourth straight victory to end the first round of their title retention bid in style.

La Salle, loser to unbeaten leader Santo Tomas midway through the round before regaining groove, thus snapped NU’s five-game winning run and claimed the solo second spot at 6-1 in the battle between the finalists of the last two seasons.

Shevana Laput hammered a season-best 20 points on 18 hits highlighted by the game-sealing attack while reigning MVP Angel Canino fired six of her 17 points in the fifth set to headline the Lady Spikers’ steely resolve from a 1-2 deficit.

Amie Provido, who anchored La Salle’s defensive stand down the stretch, had five blocks for 14 points while Alleiah Malaluan added 12 points and 14 receptions with solid support from playmaker Julia Coronel (22 sets) and libero Lyka de Leon (11 digs, 14 receptions).

“In-expect namin na ganito ‘yung magiging laban. Hindi magiging madali. Sinabi namin sa mga bata na hindi ito magiging madali kaya kailangan all-out tayo at ‘wag tayong bibitaw,” said deputy coach Noel Orcullo.