The DLSU Lady Spikers maintained their unbeaten streak in the 2024 Shakeys Super League by securing a four-set victory, 23-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-16, against the UE Lady Warriors earlier today, October 26, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Shevana Laput took the Player of the Game title after bagging an impressive 20 points through 18 attacks and two blocks. Backing up the victorious Lasallian effort were Angel Canino and Alleiah Malaluan, who tallied 17 points and 12 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, leading the charge for the Lady Warriors was Casiey Dongallo who bagged an impressive 19 points. Supporting her were Jelaica Gajero and Kc Cepada, totaling 11 points and eight points, respectively.
Back and forth
The first set began with the Lady Warriors exerting early control of the matchup, with Dongallo leading the charge for UE, who put together an early 6-1 lead over La Salle. The Lady Spikers responded with a quick attack by Amie Provido and powerful kills by Canino and Laput reducing the deficit to two, 7-5. However, a precise kill from Gajero sent UE into the first technical timeout with the score at 8-6. The lead shifted between both sides of the court as the two teams were unable to build any lasting momentum due to attacking and service errors. Stars Canino and Dongallo continued as their teams’ most aggressive attacking outlets, with the former executing multiple cross-court kills to keep DLSU level with UE.
At 16-all, it was the Lady Warriors who adjusted quicker and built momentum by improving their net and floor defense. A flurry of UE attacks, led by vicious kills by Gajero and Cepada, boosted the Lady Warriors to a dominant 21-17 lead. La Salle, on the other hand, was unable to find an answer to UE’s aggressive attacks, which expertly exploited the gaps in DLSU’s defense. However, an attacking error from the Lady Warriors and two cross-court kills from Laput reduced the gap to a point, 21-20. Dongallo secured a crucial point before UE committed two attacking errors that leveled the score, 22-all. With the set in the balance, it was the Lady Warriors who dug deep and took the set through a precise kill from Dongallo and an attack that went out of bounds from Canino, 25-23.
Tooth and nail confrontation
Determined to even the playing field for La Salle, the second set started with an attack error from the ladies in green. After a powerful spike by Yesha Rojo, UE was able to gain easy points courtesy of La Salle’s errors. Maria Santos and Malaluan made up for the initial errors, chipping in attack points, 3-all. The veteran Lady Spikers were unfazed by the close score as Jessa Ordiales drilled an attack from the middle, while Malaluan broke through UE’s double block, giving the Lady Spikers a comfortable three-point advantage, 7-4. Despite steady scoring, La Salle struggled to widen the lead as their wingers adapted to Eshana Nunag’s low sets. Meanwhile, UE was slowly but surely gaining momentum as Ashley Cañete used the arms of the tall La Salle blockers to score, 9-7. The Lady Warriors capitalized on the Lady Spikers’ errors with Bea Zamudio making her presence felt with an attack that wreaked havoc on the Taft-based squad’s defense, cutting La Salle’s lead to one, 12-11.
As the nip and tuck affair continued, Nunag finally adapted to the fast-paced environment, delivering a perfect set for Malaluan to hammer a down-the-line attack, 15-all. It was a battle of wit among the two squads as they continued to exchange scores, Canino contributed a block point while Cepada scored off the block to tie the set, 20-all. The Lady Spikers remained composed as Laput and Provido embraced their role with an efficient attack and a single block, respectively, tying the set, 24-all. Malaluan, who has been stable in scoring, delivered her signature down-the-line attack, followed by a costly setting error by UE’s Madriaga, which allowed La Salle to take the second set, 26-24.
Laput steps up
Aiming to take another set, the Lady Spikers began the third taking an early 2-0 lead after errors from UE. Powerful down-the-line spikes by Canino and Laput, along with a service ace from Provido, saw the scoreline in favor of the Green-and-White, 6-2. The Lady Warriors were still unable to find any answers to the DLSU opposite hitter Laput who continued adding to her own personal tally with her ferocious attacks. The set’s first technical timeout was reached in favor of DLSU after a service error from UE, 8-4. The Lady Spikers’ defense had massively improved, evidenced by solidified floor defense, allowing La Salle to further gain momentum. Yet another attack from Laput along with a solid block from Provido boosted DLSU to a three-point lead, 12-9.
A service ace from Malaluan and UE net and attacking errors gave the Lady Spikers a five-point advantage at the second technical timeout, 16-11. However, a service error from Provido and a misplaced pass from Lyka De Leon saw the scoreline be reduced once again, 17-14. Nevertheless, it was Laput who once again stepped up for the Lady Spikers, showcasing her attacking prowess with cross-court kills that were too hot to handle for the Lady Warriors. Two quick points from Cepada forced DLSU into a necessary momentum-killing timeout, 21-18. The timeout proved effective with the Lady Spikers Malaluan and Laput responding swiftly with attacks and Nunag ultimately closing the set after a service ace, 25-20.
Operating smoothly
Intent on finishing in four sets, the Lady Spikers showcased their teamwork, performing like a well-oiled machine as libero De Leon manned the defense at the back while Nunag’s pristine decision-making allowed her to cook up smart plays for her attackers. Seasoned Lady Spikers Provido, Malaluan, and Laput consistently exhibited a stable presence as they hammered their spikes. Riza Nogales’ ace was not enough to start a spark among UE’s other attackers as DLSU continued to dominate the set early on as Provido, with an ace of her own, denied UE a chance to catch up as they trailed by four, leading to the first technical timeout, 8-3. Proving to be a bright spot for the Lady Warriors was Rojo, who strategically positioned her attack to a zone with no defender to cut La Salle’s lead to eight, 15-7.
Ultimately, it was DLSU’s stable blocking that allowed them to gain control of the fourth set as Provido was able to counter UE’s attack, giving the Lady Spikers a significant 10-point lead, 19-9. Dongallo, who is doing it all from offense to defense and not letting the Lady Warriors falter, found an empty spot to drill her crosscourt attack, 21-12. UE’s Gajero also put up a good fight as she scored off a combination play to which La Salle responded with a similar execution courtesy of Canino, 23-14. Although Dongallo was able to save one match point, Canino’s attack from the back row ultimately sealed the deal for the Lady Spikers, defeating the Lady Warriors with a commanding nine-point advantage, 25-16.
When asked about her performance today, Player of the Game Laput was happy with their win but also expressed her desire to do more for the team, “We’re very happy with our game. Personally, I feel like I could do a lot better, but I’m glad the team still relies on me and I want to be that person for them.”
Looking back at her journey from a rookie to a reliable scorer, Laput credited her coaches, teammates, and family for their unwavering support in training, “I give it all to my coach, Coach Ramil, all my other coaches, and my teammates for always motivating me and encouraging me as well as my family for pushing me to stay here and keep this up.”
Following this astounding victory in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League, the DLSU Lady Spikers will look to secure another victory against their final Round Two opponent, the CSB Lady Blazers on Wednesday, October 30, at 5 pm, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 3 – Laput 20, Canino 17, Malaluan 12, Provido 9, Nunag 6, Del Castillo 3, Santos 3, Ordiales 2, Caringal 1, Guinto 1, Reterta 1
UE 1 – Dongallo 19, Gajero 11, Cepada 8, Balingit 3, Nogales 3, Zamudio 3, Rojo 2, Cañete 1, Castillo 1, Madriaga 1
Set Scores: 23-25, 26-24, 25-20, 25-16
