The team on the opposite end of the court took comfort in knowing La Salle inside out, but the Lady Spikers emphatically tore that perception to shreds anyway on Wednesday.
After dropping the opening set, La Salle smoothened the gaps in its play and then turned on its vaunted blocking to pummel University of Santo Tomas, 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 29-27, and take the No. 2 seed in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
“We rewrote the story,” Shevana Laput said shortly after the triumph at Mall of Asia Arena, which denied its old tormentor of again grabbing the coveted playoff bonus.
“I mean, this playoff was such a big opportunity for us. Despite everything that has happened in the elimination round, we were given this playoff chance,” the opposite hitter went on.
La Salle looked like it was going to relive being on the nasty end of a Final Four disadvantage after a shock loss at the hands of surging Far Eastern and a familiar opponent on the other side of the net on Wednesday.
But a change in outlook, according to assistant coach Noel Orcullo, proved to be the key in turning an old narrative on its head.
“The difference this time out is, these girls wanted it. Last year, towards the end of the second round, their demeanor and eagerness to win dipped,” he said.
Amie’s blocks
“This time, [the players]seem to have a push,” he added.
Captain and cornerstone Angel Canino, to nobody’s surprise, showed the way for the Lady Spikers, putting up 24 points to go with 12 receptions and 10 digs.
Laput was just as key, submitting 22 points as Amie Provido starred on the defensive end, accounting for a quarter of La Salle’s 20 blocks in the win.
“I’m glad with what the team showed,” Provido said. “It really showed that everyone wanted it (the win). We had heart. And for me, I just gave my best for everyone, who have been my motivation along with my coaches.”
A few days before their you-or-me for playoff protection, UST coach KungFu Reyes said the two schools know each other very well, and underscored that the match will be a battle of wills and smarts.
Angge Poyos had 24 points to go with 13 digs and 12 receptions, as Reg Juardo tried her darndest to send the Golden Tigresses to force a deciding fifth set with her 12 points.
But their numbers just didn’t cut it—not against a Lady Spikers side raring to make things right, and their prolific defense staring the Golden Tigresses down.
“We were not going to throw away this shot,” said Laput, who will have one more chance to finally exorcise the demons of the past when La Salle, an old power, plays UST this Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum—this time with a championship berth on the line.
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“This is just a confidence-booster. This shows we are capable,” she said. INQ
