RECLAIMING the title is the target. And La Salle is mincing no words about it.
With its 'Big 3' of captain Shevana Laput and Alas Pilipinas mainstays Angel Canino and Amie Provido still at the head of the attack, the Lady Spikers are adamant they have a golden opportunity to win it all in this wide open race.
And boy, did they flex their muscles to start the season, blowing fellow playoff contender Far Eastern University in just three sets and in just a little over an hour and a half.
READ: La Salle blasts FEU for statement start to UAAP Season 88
"It shows that we're a team that wants to win, that wants to redeem ourselves. We've come third, we've come second, it only makes sense we come first now," said Laput, fresh off a 23-point outburst on 48.7-percent efficiency.
After hoisting the trophy in Season 86, when the 'Big 3' were just rookies, La Salle had to settle for third- then second-place finishes in the face of National U's golden age.
With Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon no longer Lady Bulldogs, though, the probability of taking the title away from Jhocson went higher - with all due respect to Vange Alinsug, Lams Lamina, and the ever-proud blue-and-gold.
La Salle's goin' up, up, up
And for the Lady Spikers, all their failures are fuel to their already-burning fire.
"Wala na talaga kaming patutunguhan pa kundi yun lang," answered Canino when asked to react to Laput's strong statement.
"Yun lang talaga yung gusto namin pagpasok ng UAAP. Yun na legacy namin. Ayaw na namin bumalik sa heartbreak na naranasan namin the past two years. Hindi para sa ipagmayabang namin yung team namin, pero yun yung pinanghahawakan namin."
If the green-and-white does stay true to its word, it would be with much thanks to its fearless leader, who has long been instilling possibility and positivity.
"Si Shevana talaga nagbi-bring ng positive energy sa loob ng court. Hype girl talaga siya ever since eh," said Canino, referring to longtime teammate Laput.
"Yung positivity talaga niya, nadadala niya sa loob ng court. And kung positive ka sa lahat, talaga ma-u-up yung tao. Kahit nasa lowest siya in the present, kayang-kaya niyang ibalik yung sarili niya."
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