The DLSU Lady Spikers asserted their dominance over the UST Golden Tigresses, taming their rivals in straight sets, 25-14, 25-15, 26-24, in Round One of the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament earlier tonight, February 22, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Rookie setter Eshana Nunag was hailed Player of the Game, orchestrating 16 excellent sets before a crowd of 15,222, complemented by Team Captain Shevana Laput who led the Lady Spikers’ attack with 21 points.
Despite the loss, Angge Poyos spearheaded the Golden Tigresses’ attacks in a valiant effort with 16 points.
Seizing control early
Coming off a strong opening day victory, the DLSU Lady Spikers entered the highly-anticipated matchup eager to set the standard as the league’s powerhouse. The Thomasians picked up a powerful start as a combination of Poyos’ attacks and good blocking gave them an initial 5-2 advantage. However, the experienced Lasallians kept their poise as Canino and Laput kickstarted a surge to retake the advantage heading into the first technical timeout, 8-6.
The Taft-based squad sustained their control as they punished their rivals with their service game, highlighted by Provido consecutive aces, 13-8. DLSU displayed their all-around brilliance through their receiving and blocking prowess to seize the UST attack. For every run by the España-based side, La Salle would answer with a mixture of attacks to halt their momentum.
Eager to close the set off strong, Canino delivered on a powerful spike that would ignite a 5-0 run for the Lady Spikers, 21-14. With the Golden Tigresses struggling to find their footing, the Lasallian duo of Laput and Canino continued to take advantage of the gaps left by UST, winning a rally and breaking past the white shirts’ limp blocking. The outside hitter would end the Tigresses’ woes, dumping the ball to an open zone to close the set and stamp La Salle’s early dominance, 25-14.
Familiar names
From a Canino-laden surge in the first set, Laput’s turn came to register points from all corners of the taraflex. With Shane Reterta and Lyka De Leon manning the floor, Laput continued to punish the seams and forced defensive rotations, edging out Regina Jurado’s attempts, 3-1. A substitution paddle signaled for UST as Arlene Waje checked in to orchestrate the offense, teaming up with Blessing Unekwe in hopes of wresting momentum. But Laput played her role, manufacturing points in transition to keep the lead to DLSU, 4-2.
As Nunag recalled composure and her task to spread the points, she connected with Provido to set up an A-quick, keeping the Pepito-led block guessing, 5-4. Despite confusion, Poyos remained undeterred, exploiting gaps in the Nunag-Provido wall. The Tigresses—still rattled and smothered from their set one struggles—were awakened by trading block for block through the walls of the Taft squad with Perdido in charge, 7-all. Reterta, quick to adjust, pushed Poyos off the service line, freeing momentum for Laput who painted the line to seize control and force a Tigresses timeout, 10-7.
The crowd calmed down but Laput never let up, firing back-to-back hits from the right wing, 12-8. Unekwe tried to rally the España-based squad, but the Green-and-White leaned on their formula, with Nunag shuffling Provido-Laput-Canino into rewarded automatic conversions. Every Lady Spiker stayed locked in, with Reterta sweeping the backline and De Leon diving to make the formula click, 13-9. In a tactical ballet, Golden Tigresses Coach Shaq delos Santos favored a Waje-laden squad as they inch tied to 10-all attack points. Poyos carried on the run with back-to-back points, despite trailing, 15-12.
Reterta’s maiden block through her persistent net defense drove a momentum surge to pull away with a five-point cushion, 18-13. Despite a reshuffled UST rotation, Laput stomped the court, delivering a complete performance from every skill and every zone to back Canino’s offensive showcase, 21-15.
Even with the España-based coaching staff fielding new faces on the taraflex, the Lady Spikers stuck to their familiar system. Del Castillo guided De Leon in reading the court, opening zones five, six, and one, and locking down key areas to deny UST attempts, 24-15. UST was left empty-handed, risking errors, while Nunag distributed left and right with pure poise. This gave Laput full authority to close the set in true Lasallian fashion with no introduction needed, 25-15.
Straight-set scare
Coming off two dominant sets, the Lady Spikers came into the third set oozing with confidence and composure. Similar to the opening set, UST picked up an early advantage but this would be halted by the green shirts once again with Canino leading the way with her signature crosscourt attacks and blocking, 7-4. However, consecutive attack errors would be La Salle’s undoing, allowing UST back into the match, 7-all.
The Lady Spikers momentarily regained their footing as they relied on their attacking arsenal of Canino, Laput, and Reterta to keep the Legarda side at bay, 18-13, and prompt UST to call for a timeout. Hampered with struggles throughout the match, the break ignited the Golden Tigresses’ resolve as Poyos drilled in pinpoint spikes, with the blockers backing her in containing Laput to put them within striking distance at 20-19.
As pressure began to creep up from the Green-and-White, UST began to exploit openings as an attack error by Laput put the set at a stalemate, 21-all. Despite a service out, the Golden Tigresses continued to pile pressure as they retook the lead off an attack error by Reterta, followed by a strong attack that Canino was unable to receive to put them at match point, 24-22.
With their backs against the wall, Team Captain Laput came alive in the set’s crucial moments, delivering on consecutive blocks to put La Salle ahead and at match point, 25-24. With the electrified Lasallian faithful urging the squad, Laput would once again answer, finding an opening for an attack to put the match away, 26-24, delivering DLSU a straight-set triumph over their familiar foes.
Still riding the high of victory, Assistant Coach Noel Orcullo radiated satisfaction as he reflected, post-game on the extended final set. He credited the victory to the team’s collective drive and hard work, translating into tangible reward. Team Captain Laput echoed his sentiment, highlighting the Lasallian “puso” that fueled the squad: “This was very much a team effort. Everyone contributed; we got [21] points together. We did it as a team, and we wanted to win together.”
Player of the Game Nunag approached the post-game moment with humility. For her, the game was less about personal accolades and more about the goal “to improve more and learn more.”
The Green-and-White prepare to assert control of the standings to extend their streak, aiming to spoil the UP Fighting Maroons’ winless run on Wednesday, February 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
DLSU – Laput 21, Canino 13, Provido 7, Reterta 7, Del Castillo 4, Nunag 3, Carbradilla 1, Reyes 0, Santos 0,
UST – Poyos 16, Jurado 7, Altea 4, Bron 3, Gula 3, Perdido 3, Balingit 2, Unekwe 2, Carballo 1, Arasan 0, Waje 0
Set Scores: 25-14, 25-15, 26-24
