The DLSU Lady Spikers are heading into their ninth consecutive finals appearance since Season 71 and are looking to claim their tenth championship for La Salle. This feat, however, will not come easy as they will face the ADMU Lady Eagles in the finals for the sixth straight year.
Although DLSU concluded the elimination round with a dominating 11-3 record, which included a six-game winning streak, the Lasallians have not been able to hold off their archrivals. It has been a lopsided affair as two of La Salle’s three losses during the eliminations came at the hands of the Lady Eagles.
In their first-round matchup, DLSU gave up a four-set loss to the team from Katipunan. The Green-and-White could not contain Michelle Morente, who broke out for 25 points on 20 attacks, three blocks, and two service aces. A few weeks later, La Salle lost again in four sets, despite sealing an awry first set, 25-12. This time, Bea De Leon led the charge with Morente, both scoring 14 points apiece.
Season adjustments
Regardless of La Salle being swept in its season series with the Lady Eagles, their matchup can still go either way considering that the stakes are high for both teams; ADMU looking to avenge last year’s finals loss and La Salle out to prove that it can take home back-to-back titles despite the departure of key players.
Both teams have lost significant pieces since their finals series in 2016, but ADMU has kept itself in top shape even after losing the likes of Amy Ahomiro and former MVP (Most Valuable Player) Alyssa Valdez.
DLSU head coach Ramil De Jesus admitted that he is surprised with their return to the finals after losing most of their team’s contributors. “Maraming nawala, so siguro gusto rin nila [team] na patunayan sa sarili nila na [kahit] wala si Mika Reyes, wala na si Ara [Galang], wala na si [Cyd] Demecillo.” (A lot of last year’s players are gone so they probably want to prove that they can handle themselves even without Mika Reyes, Ara Galang, or Cyd Demecillo.)
Th Lady Spikers have been keen on filling in for the aforementioned players. Meanwhile, team captain Kim Fajardo has been substantial to their success this season with her orchestration of the offense. De Jesus is confident that his current team can play at last year’s level, or even better, with Fajardo leading the way.
Final stretch
DLSU and ADMU will be entering this series after their respective semi-final victories. La Salle rolled past UST Golden Tigresses, 25-14, 25-20, 24-26, 25-13, while on the other hand, the Lady Eagles dispatched the FEU Lady Tamaraws, 25-22, 25-10, 16-25, 26-24.
De Jesus was not entirely happy with his team after looking lost and out of sync during their third set meltdown against UST. “Hindi pwede pumasok sa finals na ganoon yung mentality at focus natin.” (We can’t enter the finals with that kind of mentality and focus.)
The extended break provided the Lasallians more time for rest and recovery, particularly Kim Kianna Dy and Desiree Cheng, who played with minor injuries against the Golden Tigresses.
Dy, last year’s Finals MVP, will be vital to La Salle’s offense as she was a bright spot in both losses to ADMU after finishing both games with 15 points. Similarly, Desiree Cheng, along with Tin Tiamzon, have been able to fill the gap on offense and defense in their recent games.
Most importantly, as a team which has established itself as defense-oriented, the Lady Spikers will look to assert themselves anew with Dawn Macandili anchoring their floor defense and MaJoy Baron and Aduke Ogunsanya leading the way in blocking.
The opening of the best-of-three finals series will take place tomorrow, May 2, at 4 pm at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
