EXPECT the De La Salle Lady Spikers to look a bit different come UAAP Season 87 early next year.
READ: Rookie-laden La Salle puts end to NU's 28-game win streak in SSL
The Lady Spikers fielded 22 players in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Collegiate Pre-season Championship, featuring only eight holdovers from last year’s bronze-medal finish in the UAAP with three seniors, four juniors and a sophomore.
The 14 remaining names, however, are either incoming rookies or senior high players who are part of the team’s training pool.
Simply put, a very young crew beckons in Taft amid a rare rebuild for Ramil de Jesus’ dynastic champion side.
Statement of intent sent
Age proved to be just a number as this rookie-laden La Salle team snapped the two-year, 28-game SSL win streak of the reigning preseason and UAAP champion NU in a gutsy 32-30, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21 effort.
It was even rookie Mary Shane Reterta who landed the game-winning service ace in the fourth set.
Such a victory in the eyes of team captain Angel Canino is proof to doubters and naysayers that La Salle won’t ever be pushovers, even in the midst of a rebuild.
“Sobrang proud din kasi kahit nga parang nagdududa ‘yung mga tao sa’min dahil rebuilding team kami, at least we proved them that we have something,” Canino told SPIN.ph.
“Malaking bagay po ‘yun sa’min lalo na sa current team namin ngayon.”
Taft underdogs?
With a champion head coach in Sherwin Meneses now calling the shots for a star-studded NU side led by the likes of Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Vange Alinsug, among others, the mighty Lady Bulldogs just got mightier.
Hence, they’re among, or if not, the favorite to complete an SSL three-peat and possibly defend the UAAP crown for a third title in four seasons.
With the rebuild, this might be the rare year for the Taft dynasty to be labeled as 'underdogs' in the UAAP, but at the end of the day, when it comes to collegiate women’s volleyball, La Salle is still La Salle.
“Yes, of course po [ine-embrace namin ang pagiging underdogs] kasi NU, hindi naman sila basta lang eh. Malaking team sila sa UAAP na kailangang i-watch out talaga, so confidence-booster din talaga namin ‘to.”
Canino furthered, "Hindi naman kasi matuturo nang basta-basta ‘yung characteristics ng isang championship player. Happy lang ako kasi ngayon, ‘yung mga teammates ko po, papunta na du’n sa level na ‘yun.
"Hopefully, hopefully, panghawakan nila ‘to starting ngayon."
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