The DLSU Lady Spikers swept the UP Fighting Maroons, 25-12, 25-15, 25-19, marking the third straight game where the Taft-based squad tallied victories in straight sets in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament earlier tonight, February 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In the absence of Team Captain and top scorer Shevana Laput, Angel Canino led the Green-and-White to a dominant victory, scoring 12 points from 11 attacks and one block, while Amie Provido and Shane Reterta provided 11 points apiece.
On the opposite side, the UP Fighting Maroons struggled to find their offensive rhythm with Casiey Dongallo, Jelai Gajero, Irah Jaboneta, and Niña Ytang scoring four points each for the Diliman-based squad.
Utter domination
The Lady Spikers orchestrated a defensive masterclass in the opening frame, leveraging a formidable net presence to dismantle the Fighting Maroons. The set began with grueling, high-intensity rallies, but Canino’s razor-sharp precision would swiftly break the deadlock. This opening salvo catalyzed a staggering 12-0 run, as the defenses of the Green-and-White neutralized the Maroon shirts, forcing a barrage of unforced errors and miscommunications. Despite an early timeout from the UP side to quell the momentum, Canino continued her relentless assault, punctuated by a technical timeout at 8-1 and a thunderous crosscourt kill that sent the arena into a frenzy.
While Canino provided the offensive fireworks, the Lady Spikers’ efficiency was anchored by the calculated distribution of Eshana Nunag, who acted as the team’s quiet heart by delivering precise sets to her hitters. UP attempted a mid-set resurgence, led by Dongallo and Ytang, but their efforts were largely neutralized by DLSU’s superior floor coverage and a successful challenge at 20-5 that maintained La Salle’s stranglehold. Despite a brief late-set rally by Jaboneta and Ytang, the Taft-based squad remained composed as the frame concluded with Nunag once again connecting with Provido for a lightning-fast quick attack, sealing a lopsided 25-12 victory for La Salle.
Continued control
After a shaky start plagued by errors from both sides, the first few points saw the black shirts briefly edge ahead at 2-1 before Canino’s powerful spike gave the Lady Spikers a 3-2 lead. The early exchanges remained tense as La Salle worked to regain composure after visibly gaining more blunders than in the first set.
Determined to find a breakthrough, the Lady Spikers finally began to assert control through a combination of sharp attacking and disciplined floor defense. Provido converted running attacks from Nunag and delivered back-to-back kills at the net, while Reterta added a broken-play finish, extending the lead to 14-9. Del Castillo and the front line forced Ytang into repeated errors, while DLSU’s floor coverage stifled the Fighting Maroons’ attempts to regain momentum, extending their lead to 18-10.
As the Diliman-based squad’s errors piled, the Lady Spikers’ balanced offense and smart distribution from Nunag kept the pressure high. Nearly all players continued to contribute offensively for the Green-and-White, with Provido and Canino attacking the UP defense, while Reterta scored through key conversions to give La Salle a clear edge, 21-12. In the end, Mikee Santos finished over the blockers to seal a 25-15 win for the second set, capping a set highlighted by La Salle’s strong defense and relentless attacking after an error-prone start.
Sealing the deal
The Lasallians moved within striking distance of a sweep, turning the third set into a masterclass of offensive variety and defensive grit. The set began as a mirror image of the first. La Salle’s frontline, led by Provido and Reterta, neutralized the Fighting Maroons’ hitters while Santos exploited the open zones with clinical precision. UP attempted to shift the momentum by pulling Sarah Ali from the floor, but the Lady Spikers remained unfazed, even successfully challenging a reaching beyond the net call to maintain their early cushion. By the time the second technical timeout arrived, DLSU doubled the score at 16-8, capitalizing on a series of UP net faults and positioning errors that left the Diliman-based squad searching for answers.
The closing stages of the set saw a brief flicker of hope for the Fighting Maroons, as they capitalized on a string of DLSU service errors and a 4-0 run to narrow the gap to 18-12. The momentum shift was momentarily halted by a medical timeout for Ytang, who took a hit to the eye. Continuing right after, UP chipped away, utilizing Dongallo’s late-set heroics to pull within five at 22-17. Sensing the shift, DLSU Head Coach Ramil de Jesus inserted fresh legs into the floor. As a result, Mikole Reyes and Althea Cabradilla provided a crucial spark for La Salle. Despite a late net fault that threatened to prolong the frame, a costly service error by Dongallo handed the Green-and-White the match point. Canino—ever the closer—finally slammed the door shut with a thunderous crosscourt attack, sealing the set 25-19 and securing the dominant victory.
With Laput out for the game, rookie opposite hitter Santos stepped up for the Green-and-White. In her first appearance as a starter, she emphasized how valuable the opportunity was to prove herself and contribute to the team, saying, “Important siya bilang rookie—malaking tulong itong [experience] para maging confident at mas matatag sa court.”
(It’s important as a rookie—this [experience] is a big help to become more confident and steadier on the court.)
Provido further praised the contribution of this season’s rookies as she expounded how they alleviate pressure off the seniors: “Sobrang laking tulong na the way silang maglaro, sobrang gaan nila kasama sa court. Nakikita namin na eager silang tumulong sa amin.”
(The way they play is such a big help; they’re so easy to be around on the court. We can see that they’re eager to help us.)
The DLSU Lady Spikers look to remain flawless as they battle their archrivals, ADMU Lady Eagles on Sunday, March 1, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU – Canino 12, Provido 11, Reterta 11, Santos 10, Del Castillo 6, Cabradillo 1, Nunag 1
UP – Dongallo 4, Gajero 4, Jaboneta 4, Ytang 4, Ali 3, Olango 3, Bansil 1, De Leon 1
Set Scores: 25-12, 25-15, 25-19
