La Salle Lady Spikers. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Angel Canino shakes off a slow start and leads La Salle to its best start in nine years after beating Adamson, 22-25, 25-14, 25-16, 25-19, in the tournament UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Center.
Lady Spikers’ highly-rated rookie, who was under the weather a week before the game, was limited to just two points in a first-set loss to the rising Lady Falcons.
But Canino regained form with 21 points, including 20 of La Salle’s 54 attacks, while the defenders between Fifi Sharma and Thea Gagate imposed their will on the front lines, ending combined to create 11 of the team’s 14 best saves of the season.
“We had an unstable start because Angel was still adjusting. She missed our previous workout because she wasn’t feeling well. She just got back to training yesterday,” La Salle coach Noel Orcullo said in Filipino. “I just reminded them to come back after the first set. Good thing I was able to wake them up.”
Canino made sure to bring her game back in the ensuing sets to keep La Salle unbeaten for six games — the best start since 2014’s UAAP Season 77 — before facing their tormentor in Last year’s Finals, National University, on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“My thoughts are to forget everything that happened in the first set. Come back, relax and do the things I usually do on the court,” Canino said in Filipino as she also had 17 excellent receptions. “Because if I focus on my poor performance in the first set it affects my play and my contribution to the team.”
Besides Canino, Gagate made 11 attacks and 5 saves to finish with 16 points. Sharma launched six career-high blocks to contribute 12 points, while Jolina Dela Cruz delivered an all-around game with 10 points, 13 tackles and 10 digs.
Setter Mars Alba also shined with 15 excellent sets and hit 4 aces for 7 points, while substitute Baby Jyne Soreno added 9 points.
“Actually I am very proud of my team and of course very happy with the result because we have been really preparing for this all week. We just followed the system and I’m happy and proud of everyone who did so well for the team today,” Canino said.
Adamson was knocked back to earth as La Salle ended his all-time three-match winning streak, slipping to a 4-2 record after scoring just one point ahead of his opponents’ season-high 14.
Trisha Tubu has 13 points to lead the Falcons. Kate Santiago scored 12 points, 15 digs and 10 hits, while Lucille Almonte added 9 points and 10 hits.
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