The De La Salle University Lady Spikers stormed into the Final Four of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament, securing their place with a dominant victory over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
In a swift 84-minute match, La Salle overpowered UP with scores of 25-15, 25-18, and 25-20, extending their undefeated streak to 10-0 and solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with.
Shevana Laput and Angel Canino led the charge for La Salle, delivering a combined 31 points, showcasing a synergy that has become a hallmark of their success. Middle Blocker Amie Provido added significant power with 10 points, further amplifying the team’s offensive prowess.
This victory marks La Salle’s 16th consecutive postseason appearance since 2009, a testament to their consistent excellence and unwavering commitment to the sport. The team now enjoys a week-long break for the Holy Week, but their ambitions remain firmly focused on redemption.
Despite the comfortable win, La Salle isn’t resting on its laurels, driven by the memory of a recent bridesmaid finish to National University. They relentlessly pursued every point, establishing a commanding 10-point lead in the first set and maintaining control throughout the match.
Even UP’s attempts to rally proved insufficient against La Salle’s experience and precision. A late surge led by Canino sealed the second and third sets, demonstrating the Lady Spikers’ ability to close out games under pressure.
For UP, the loss was a setback in their pursuit of a Final Four berth, dropping them to 4-6. Niña Ytang and Gelai Gajero offered glimpses of hope with nine points each, but the team struggled to find consistency.
La Salle will return to action against Far Eastern University, aiming to continue their perfect run and potentially secure an outright finals berth. UP faces a crucial match against Ateneo de Manila University, desperately needing a win to stay in the playoff hunt.
In the men’s division, La Salle also found success, tying Ateneo at No. 4 with a 5-5 record after a hard-fought victory over UP, 25-22, 25-23, 18-25, 26-24. Olayemi Raheem and Yoyong Mendoza spearheaded the attack, each scoring 17 points.
