The DLSU Lady Spikers fell victim to the vicious fangs of defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs in blitz fashion, 16-25, 12-25, 25-27, as they suffered their maiden loss in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League in time for Game One of the best-of-three Finals earlier tonight, November 22, at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Taft stalwart Shevana Laput was the Green-and-White’s saving grace as she delivered the only double-digit performance for the Lady Spikers, notching 12 points off 10 attacks, a block, and an ace. Meanwhile, Team Captain Angel Canino also marked a reliable showing of eight points from seven attacks and a block.
The deadly duo of Alyssa Solomon and Mhicaela Belen paved the triumphant way for the Lady Bulldogs as they notched 14 and 10 points, respectively. Evangeli Alinsug also made her presence felt after an attested seven-point effort for the navy blue jerseys.
Anguished ambush
Fresh from a long break before the Shakey’s Super League Finals, the Lady Spikers entered the first set lacking their usual composure, having to play catch-up against the Lady Bulldogs. Belen and Solomon wasted no time demonstrating their abilities, while La Salle lost multiple scoring opportunities after Shane Reterta’s error on the service line and Laput’s late attack, 4-2. NU had the upper hand with their defensive core, ensuring all zones had a stable receiver. Reterta’s dump ball that went out of bounds led to the first technical timeout with the Lady Bulldogs ahead by three, 8-5.
Hoping to spark momentum among the team, Amie Provido and Reterta’s rigid wall successfully blocked Alinsug’s attack, cutting NU’s lead to two, 12-10. However, the Lady Spikers’ overall defense struggled as Canino was blocked with no other Lady Spiker able to cover the back row, 14-10. Full of power, the Lady Bulldogs went on a 6-0 rampage led by Alinsug’s powerful attack in Zone Five against the La Salle libero Lyka De Leon, followed by a score from Erin Pangilinan, 19-12. As NU’s first set victory grew imminent, veteran Alleiah Malaluan displayed composure and intelligently positioned her attack to scrape the arm of the opposing blocker, though La Salle remained far behind, 23-15. Much to their dismay, Malaluan’s service error handed the Lady Bulldogs the first set in overpowering fashion, 25-16.
Second to done
The second set witnessed the Lady Spikers more rattled than ever as shaky defense and unfinished offense plagued the Green-and-White in a blowout defeat. Alas Pilipinas youngblood Arah Panique’s unanswered attacks left the Taft mainstays silent as she headlined an early run for the Lady Bulldogs, 4-0. Jyne Soreño took matters into her own hands as she stopped the bleeding with a crosscourt attack—one of only four attack points in the set for the ladies in green. Malaluan took the initiative to fill in for an uncharted floor defense while steering DLSU’s struggling offense.
Meanwhile, the defending champions limited their unforced errors to only eight, which made up most of La Salle’s points. NU’s deep bench launched varied plays that scrambled the Lady Spikers’ defense, with second-stringers Celine Marsh, Nataszha Bombita, and Abegail Pono showing out with markers of their own, 19-8. Despite a final resort to Team Captain Canino’s reliable presence, Minierva Maaya’s assertive quicks and firm blocks made all the difference for the Jhocson-based squad to snatch the second set altogether with a daunting 13-point gutter, 25-12.
Belated determination
Down in the initial two sets, the Lady Spikers were in crunch time to extend the match, Provido scored the first point of the set with an astounding attack from the middle. The Lady Bulldogs quickly responded with three consecutive points, courtesy of Solomon and Alexa Mata’s smart offense, 3-1. Still unable to find the right tempo with her wingers, young rookie Mikole Reyes’ setting errors made it increasingly difficult for La Salle to catch up as they lagged by half, 12-6. Apart from their strong performance in both offense and defense, a tactic the Lady Bulldogs employed was targeting Team Captain Canino on the service line. Despite her excellent reception, the added responsibility limited her time to get into position to score.
Fueled by the Lady Spikers’ desire to extend the first match in the Finals series, La Salle was able to trigger a 4-0 run from Laput’s specialty crosscourt dagger, Katrina Del Castillo’s block, and an ace from Laput with the help of the net. The third set saw a much-needed long rally where De Leon showcased her consistency, valiantly receiving two of Belen’s crosscourt smashes in Zone Six to cut NU’s lead by one, 17-16. As momentum shifted, the Lady Spikers were able to match the Lady Bulldogs’ tenacity, with a consistent floor defense as their primary weapon. However, unenforced errors still plagued the young La Salle team. Powering through it was the reliable Canino, scoring from the back row, 20-19. The Lady Spikers were able to catch up which led to multiple deadlocks in the set with the help of Provido’s effective blocking and role as a decoy in a combination play with Laput, 22-all.
La Salle’s persistence on the hardcourt was evident as Canino used free balls to bring the team to their first match point, 24-23. As both teams refused to back down, the match went into an extended set, but the Lady Spikers ultimately bowed down after back-to-back scoring errors cost them the third set, 27-25.
The DLSU Lady Spikers are slated to face the NU Lady Bulldogs again for a chance to force a rubber match and extend the Finals series on Sunday, November 24, at 5 pm at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 0 – Laput 12, Canino 8, Malaluan 3, Provido 2, Reterta 2, Del Castillo 1, Provido 1, Caringal 0, De Jesus 0, De Leon 0, Guinto 0, Ordiales 0, Reyes 0, Tolentino 0,
NU 3 – Solomon 14, Belen 10, Alinsug 7, Maaya 4, Mata 4, Pangilinan 3, Bombita 2,Marsh 2, Pono 2, Bello 0, Cepada, Jardio 0, Lamina 0
Set Scores: 16-25, 12-25, 25-27
