The DLSU Lady Spikers shook their chances of quickly advancing to the Final Four in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament after failing to escape the closed fists of the UP Fighting Maroons in five gruelling sets, 24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 14-16, earlier tonight, April 13, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Taking charge of the match for the Lady Spikers was Shevana Laput, who raked in 27 big markers, nine digs, and four blocks. Adding to the valiant efforts were Team Captain Angel Canino, who tallied big scores with 25 points, as well as Mikole Reyes who brought home 30 excellent sets.
Joan Monares led the Fighting Maroons to victory as she bagged the Player of the Game award with 16 points off 15 attacks and one block. Kassandra Doering followed closely with 15 points on 12 attacks and three blocks.
Falls off the hands
The starting set immediately witnessed the winning drive of both teams through nail-biting rallies and the lack of advantageous leads. The Lady Spikers started slow after handing out two consecutive points to UP brought by errors, 2-0. However, Amie Provido stepped up with her fiery hands, delivering two quick attacks that shook the Maroon grounds and forced UP to call for a timeout early in the set, 3-2. Canino backed up her middle blocker’s spark as she displayed her offensive stance by delivering an electric pouncer down the middle, followed by an ace from the service lines, 7-6. Throughout the set, the competing teams both showed out in attempts to fully grip the momentum of the match, quickly exchanging points and breaking small leads. Lyka De Leon carried the floor defense of La Salle, scrambling to keep the ball alive in an intense sequence that ended with a heavy hit from Canino, marking a three-point lead, 12-9.
After multiple remarks from the offensive unit, the Lady Spikers have won the early battle of momentum, gripping tight on the set. Laput sprung into action as she added to the scoreboards with an overwhelming block to complete a 5-0 run for the Taft-based squad, 17-12. However, Niña Ytang continued to be an issue for the Lady Spikers, denying Canino from delivering her signature crosscourt killer to complete a 3-0 run, cutting the lead to just one, 18-17. Canino, however, found a way to get past the Fighting Maroon defense as she flaunted her prowess: a smart drop attack to bring the Green-and-White at match point, 24-21. Despite the promising score, the Lady Spikers failed to overcome the middle blockers of UP after succumbing to a crucial block and spike from Ytang, forcing a deuce, 24-all. The unexpected comeback run startled the bets of Taft, and the Fighting Maroons eventually stole the first set with a strong open hit, 26-24.
Nowhere to go but up
Coming from a shaky and startling start, the Lady Spikers stepped back to the taraflex with their heads held high, determined to break free from the firm grip of the UP Fighting Maroons. It was Provido who first moved the scoreboard for La Salle, notching consecutive points, but only after UP opened with two early markers. La Salle’s attack miscues briefly handed momentum to the Maroons. However, Canino turned the tables with a series of well-timed hits, scoring three successive points to give DLSU a five-point lead and marking the beginning of DLSU’s redemption with hopes to widen the gap even more, 13-8.
Lilay Del Castillo added to the spark with a service ace, placing La Salle further ahead as UP started to fall behind, 15-9. DLSU tightened their reception and floor defense, regaining their signature composure. Canino continued to play smart, catching UP off-guard with a perfectly timed drop ball to push the lead to seven, 17-10. A series of UP attack errors handed more freebies to the Green-and-White, while the Lady Spikers capitalized on the Fighting Maroons’ open backrow. Laput was indeed a prominent figure in the second set; her powerful yet calculated spikes changed the scores for the Green-and-White, 23-15. The final moments of the first half was a tradeoff of service errors from both sides. Despite this, Canino became the cherry on top, sealing the deal for the Lady Spikers as she ended the set with her attack from behind the net, 25-18.
Relentless rise
High from the victorious run of the second set, the Lady Spikers are pumped to cut the match short with their dominating scheme. After a slow start, Laput ignited La Salle’s momentum with back-to-back plays: a thunderous spike and an overwhelming block. UP responded with smart attacks and tight plays, even denying Canino at the net. Yet service errors and La Salle’s relentless pace kept the score neck-and-neck. The Lady Spikers kept within reach, capitalizing on the Fighting Maroons’ service errors and quick connections from Reyes and Provido. The score was tied after a well-timed overreceive by Provido, 8-all.
Momentum fully swung in La Salle’s direction after the second technical timeout; their front line began to take control. Provido’s service ace and Canino’s command from the backrow built a five-point lead, 20-15. Despite UP’s efforts to close the gap through off-speed shots and quick plays, the Green-and-White refused to let the set slide off their hands once more. Ytang repeatedly pounced on the quick sets, while Canino dazzled with a combination play that sent the Araneta crowd roaring. The Lady Spiker’s pressuring presence saw the UP defense crumble with an overreceive punished by Canino and a final towering block from Del Castillo, 25-19.
A saddening stumble
Rolling from the third set, the DLSU Lady Spikers wanted to put a halt to the game by taking over the fourth set. Laput put together a highlight reel, raking in successive points, including service aces. However, the Fighting Maroons fought their way in the Lasallian lair, studying their pesky plays. From there, UP gained their momentum back, keeping the scores tight again. Laput tried her best to answer back, yet the opponents always had a rebuttal to her attempts. La Salle grabbed free markers from an Alleiah Malaluan service ace, and the Green-and-White slowly regained their confidence with their two-point lead, 17-15. However, UP’s aces snatched the momentum, 18-17. Jyne Soreño then stepped on the court in this set. Despite trying to pick from a deep-rooted bench, La Salle still struggled to get back on their feet while the Fighting Maroons were clawing their way up. The fourth set ended in favor of UP, forcing a crucial fifth set, 25-22.
On the edge
With their assured seat to the Final Four on the line, the deciding set opened with the Lady Spikers gaining the early edge through an ace by Reyes, 1-0. But UP immediately answered, matching La Salle point for point in the first few rallies. Canino kept the Lady Spikers in front briefly with a clean hit from the middle, but UP picked up momentum after denying Laput at the net. This forced La Salle into errors as the Diliman-based squad enjoyed a three-point cushion, 7-4. Despite a disadvantageous stand, the Lady Spikers caught up with back-to-back points through Laput, narrowing the gap to one, 13-12.
Despite a costly service error by Provido that pushed UP to match point, Canino pushed a Maroon victory back with a powerful spike and a momentum-shifting block that tied the match, 14-all. The match hung in the balance as UP’s offense found success again, 14-15. On the last play, Monares delivered a strong down-the-line hit, ending the set and sealing the match in UP’s favor, 16-14.
With the upsetting results and as the Lady Spikers’ Round Two run approaches its end, they now set their sight on punching their semifinals ticket as they go up against the AdU Lady Falcons next Wednesday, April 23, at 3 pm at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
DLSU – Laput 27, Canino 25, Provido 12, Malaluan 7, Del Castillo 5, Reyes 3, Reterta 1, Soreño 1, Tolentino 0
UP – Monares 16, Doering 15, Olango 14, Ytang 11, Jaboneta 9, Manguilimotan 3, Bansil 2, Capistrano 1, Cells 0, De Leon 0
Set scores: 24-26, 25-18, 25-19, 22-25, 14-16
