FOR all the star spikers La Salle has produced through the years, its greatest weapon has actually always been wielded right at the net.
Blocking remains the defining identity of the Lady Spikers under Ramil de Jesus, and in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball finals, that trademark yet again took center stage.
READ: For all his wins, this loss stays with RDJ. Find out what
La Salle piled up eight blocks in just three sets to smother two-time defending champion National U and move within a win of the a title, as well as a perfect run.
The effect was massive, as the Lady Bulldogs were limited to dismal nine-percent attacking efficiency, while prized rookie Sam Cantada was held to just two points after converting only one of her 18 attempts.
For de Jesus, whose long list of standout middle blockers includes Celine Hernandez, Aby Marano, Michele Gumabao, Mika Reyes, Majoy Baron, Thea Gagate, and Amie Provido, among many others, the expectation was simple.
If La Salle is what the league has long looked up to when it comes to blocking, then it has to keep that standard again and again.
“Wala kaming specific na depensa sa bawat player. Basta kami, ‘yung pattern lang namin, sabi ko sa kanila, tayo naman ‘yung No. 1 blocking team, so kailangang magawa natin ‘yung maging No. 1 blocking team,” RDJ said.
“Kung sino pa man ‘yung pumalo, kailangang mag-block tayo.”
Taft towers, net terrors
Indeed, the numbers back it up.
The Lady Spikers entered the finals best blocking team with 3.04 blocks per set and 158 total kill blocks. Even in Season 87, when they fell short of the title, they still topped the blocking charts with 160 kill blocks overall, albeit on a lower 2.54-block average.
Leading that charge has been Provido, who is on track for another best middle blocker award and accounted for half of La Salle’s eight blocks in Game 1 alone.
Still, Provido knows their strong starts and dominant numbers will mean little if they fail to close out the championship.
“I’m very happy with the performance overall sa team namin kasi pinusuan talaga. Always namin nire-remind ‘yung team to not be complacent kasi hindi talaga ito about kung paano namin sinimulan ‘yung season, kundi kung paano namin i-e-end ‘yung season,” she said.
“Nandito na kami, nabigyan kami ng opportunity sa Game 1 at hindi pa tapos ‘yung laban. We’re gonna give our best pa para sa game sa Saturday.”
One more win remains, and as always, La Salle plans to claim it right from the net.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
