Despite taking a four-set loss to the ADMU Lady Eagles earlier at the Mall of Asia Arena, there were still positive points to draw out for the DLSU Lady Spikers. May Luna and Michelle Cobb delivered quality performances as substitutes for the team from Taft.
With the Lasallians struggling to close out the first two sets despite controlling the tempo of the game, head coach Ramil De Jesus looked to his bench. Luna entered the game as early as the second set, but made her presence felt in the third, in which she entered as a starter. The sophomore went on to finish with eight points, three of which came from service aces.
Cobb on the other hand, entered the game in the third set as La Salle shifted to a 4-2 offensive rotation. The rookie played alongside her mentor, veteran Kim Fajardo. With the two setters playing side by side, Fajardo had opportunities to go for attacks. With a rare opportunity to showcase her attacking skills, the two-time UAAP Best Setter impressed 17,132 fans in the arena as she finished with 10 points.
With momentum on the Ateneans’ side in the third set, Luna threw off the Blue-and-White defense with her jump serves. She managed to convert two consecutive aces and give La Salle an 18-17 lead. Spikes down the stretch from Kim Kianna Dy and Des Cheng proved to be vital for the Lady Spikers as they sealed the third set, 25-21.
Although La Salle fell in the fourth set and took its second defeat in seven games, the team from Taft concluded the first round of eliminations in second place. Despite the Lady Spikers struggling and losing to last season’s runner-up, Cobb and Luna showed great promise and the future for the defending champions continues to remain bright.
