The DLSU Lady Spikers wiped out the FEU Lady Tamaraws in a straight-sets win, 25-19, 25-14, 27-25, in their UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament season opener earlier tonight, February 14, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Kicking off their season debut, Team Captain Shevana Laput led the squad to victory, getting hailed as Player of the Game after unleashing 23 points from 20 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. Driving the team’s triumphant performance alongside Laput were Angel Canino and Amie Provido, who scored 15 and 11 points, respectively.
On the other side of the court, the Green-and-Gold’s Gerzel Petallo contributed 11 points from 10 attacks and a block, followed by Clarisse Loresco and Jazlyn Ellarina, who added six and eight points, respectively, to the team’s total.
In new spirits
Aiming for a hearty opening display, both squads rallied early for point number one. Having gained a head start from Laput’s swing through the block, the Lady Spikers displayed a certain tenacity, evident through their organized, do-or-die defense, that signaled their completely reinvigorated team. Despite FEU’s early guard at the net, crowd-favorite Canino was quick to identify space in their defense, feathering a power tap straight into FEU’s unguarded Zone Six, bringing the scoreline to their favor at 6-5. Ellarina answered with a version of her own, but Laput’s pipe attack restored their slim cushion heading into the first technical timeout, 8-7.
The Taft-based squad showed readiness to consolidate control when Provido struck an ace for a 9-7 edge. The stretch that followed, however, unraveled into service and net errors on both ends, stalling any sustained run. It was Laput who provided the spark for her team, utilizing the overlooked spaces in FEU’s defense before going for a sharp cross-court attack, which handed them a four-point cushion, 16-12.
Service pressure became the separator late in the set as DLSU began disrupting FEU’s already problematic reception. Another cross-court hit by Laput pushed the lead to 20-12, prompting a timeout from the Morayta side. Despite piecing together a late surge with a four-to-zero run, DLSU still emerged on top, culminating in a Provido quick to stop the bleeding, 24-17. A service error closed the frame at 25-19, sealing a set that La Salle controlled for most of its duration.
Set on fire
The Lady Spikers wasted no time taking control, as Laput opened the frame with a precise crosscourt hit for 1–0, before the Tamaraws’ Petallo answered to tie it. A net touch and a crafty Laput tap put the Green-and-White ahead 3–1, then Canino’s monster block and fierce stare down extended the lead to 4–1. Errors from the Recto-based squad, along with Lilay Del Castillo’s denial, pushed the score to 6–2. Laput soared over two blockers, and another Tamaraw miscue gave La Salle an early 8–3 cushion at the technical timeout.
After the break, the Green-and-White kept up the pressure. Provido’s block made it 9–3, followed by back-to-back Eshana Nunag service aces that extended the margin to 14–9. Laput led the charge with a running crosscourt attack, 16–11, then a clever drop shot tricked the Tamaraws’ defense, making it 19–11. Capitalizing on the Morayta-based squad’s errors, the Lasallians cruised through the closing sequences of the set. With eyes on the prize, Canino finished it off with a sharp spike to close the second frame at 25–14.
A special delivery
With a sweep within reach, La Salle encountered resistance early in the third. Loresco accounted for three quick points as FEU found rhythm through sharper plays. Seeing more costly errors on their side, the Lady Spikers’ seasoned players began unveiling tactics that were up their sleeves, beginning with Canino, who scored on a drop ball and two down-the-line hits that cut their deficit to one, 6-5. Provido then began to assert her presence at the net, scoring back-to-back solo blocks to give the Taft-based squad a 9-6 advantage and force FEU into a timeout. The Lady Tamaraws, however, began amping up their offensive tempo and diversifying their attacks, exposing DLSU to settle with loose blocks as they tilted the lead, 16-12.
With her team hampered by attack errors that either sailed too long or went wide, Canino halted the skid, firmly burying her attack right into the middle of FEU’s court, 16-13. This led to multiple scoring opportunities for La Salle, as they began drawing points from different sources, including a set of power blocks. Canino created yet another highlight play, dropping the ball just behind the blockers to inch closer to match point at 19-17.
Refusing to let their late surge go to waste, the Lady Tamaraws capitalized on Petallo and Mitzi Panangin’s lucrative combination, alongside Lovely Lopez’s explosive off-the-block and down-the-line conversions, to regain the lead, 22-21. A service error subsequently placed La Salle in peril as FEU reached set point. Nonetheless, Laput responded with a hit toward the tail of the opposite court, while Canino followed with a cross-court equalizer to tie the match at 24-all. In the end, Laput’s well-timed drop ball swung the momentum back to the Green-and-White before she delivered the decisive blow to seal the match for DLSU, 27-25.
Lady Spikers Assistant Coach Noel Orcullo shared the reminder given to the team. “’Yun nga, nauna sila sa set point. Sinabihan lang naman ni Coach Ramil [de Jesus] na kapitan lang na ibigay lang yung magagawa nila.”
(They reached the set point first. Coach Ramil just told them to hold on and simply give what they can.)
Despite FEU threatening to extend the match, the Lady Spikers responded with composure, a testament to their growing maturity and hunger. Reflecting on the team’s character in that moment, Laput emphasized their mindset built on redemption from the past season’s heartbreak. “I think it shows that we’re a team that wants to win. We’re a team that wants to redeem ourselves.”
She further opened up about her journey with the Lady Spikers, drawing from the heartbreak of past seasons. “For the past two years, at least for Angel and I, we have come third, and we have come second. It only makes sense that we come first now.”
With the straight-sets victory to open their campaign, the Lady Spikers now turn their attention to their next challenge as they face the UST Golden Tigresses on Sunday, February 22, at 3 pm, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 3 – Laput 23, Canino 15, Provido 11, Nunag 3, Retereta 3, Del Castillo 2, Santos 0, Buenaventura 0, Rodriguez 0, De Leon 0, Cabradilla 0, Reyes 0, De Guzman 0, Caringal 0
FEU 0 – Petallo 11, Loresco 8, Ellarina 6, Bakanke 5, Lopez 4, Devosora 4, Panangin 2, Pons 0, Pendon 0, Ubaldo 0, Miranda 0, Suplico 0, Encarnacion 0, David 0
Set Scores: 25-19, 25-14, 27-25
