ANGEL Canino has missed La Salle’s last five matches in the tailend of the elimination round of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
In eight matches played prior to her right arm injury, Canino averaged 16.25 points (130 total markers) on 37.5% attacking efficiency. The defending champions went 4-1 (win-loss) in her absence, the lone loss coming at the hands of title rival National University in four sets.
Although the reigning MVP’s presence has been missed, more so when it comes to her on-court leadership, the Lady Spikers banked on their core of ace attackers led by sophomore hotshot Shevana Laput who averaged 20.4 points in the Taft side’s Canino-less five-game stretch.
READ: La Salle ironing out persistent lapses as Final Four approaches
Canino took the court for pre-game warmups with no more medical bandages in some games. Prior to La Salle’s masterful 25-12, 25-12, 25-18 rout of Ateneo, she was seen partaking in digging and spiking drills with her injured forearm still taped.
Early signs pointed to a possible on-court return in a match no less than their rivalry duel with the Blue Eagles. Quick as the match turned out to be, Canino didn’t see action for the Lady Spikers despite being in uniform.
With a high-stakes battle against their first-round tormentor University of Sto. Tomas coming up and a twice-to-beat bonus up for grabs, La Salle deputy coach Noel Orcullo gave a broad timetable on when their ace spiker will see action again.
“Maganda naman yung progress ng recovery niya. So far, nagte-therapy naman na siya. Hopefully makabalik talaga siya kung hindi man sa game sa UST, sa semis,” said Orcullo.
And on whether a Canino return could’ve happened in the lopsided rivalry match, Orcullo was quick to shut down such an idea.
“Wala pa sa plano.”
All for Angel
For Canino's batchmate and now-lead spiker Laput, not a single match went by in which the Lady Spikers didn't have their injured teammate in their minds since her arm injury shortly after the Holy Week break.
And regardless of when the reigning MVP will make her on-court return, Laput vowed that the Taft side will continue to play with their hearts on their sleeves for Canino and another injured mainstay, Baby Jyne Soreño.
"With Angel (Canino), she's my batchmate. With her out, I need to step up for her and do justice for her. Personally, I'm playing for the both of us right now. I always say to her, 'this is also yours,'" said Laput.
"I always think to myself I'm a work in progress. This isn't my best. I know I can do so much more but I'm glad right now I'm contributing to the team," she added.
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