HISTORY was made on all fronts for the De La Salle Lady Spikers after winning their 12th UAAP women's volleyball crown in Season 85 whilst crowning the school's first-ever rookie-MVP in Angel Canino.
She may have undoubtedly dazzled from start to finish to lead La Salle's vengeful title conquest over the young powerhouse that is National University, but there won't be such a thing as a Canino-centered charge for the Taft squad when their title defense officially begins.
READ: Seniors Gagate, Coronel embrace leadership roles at La Salle
"Kami naman, nu'ng naglaro ng Shakey's (Super League), wala naman si Angel (Canino). Malaking bagay dahil siya 'yung naging go-to guy namin last Season 85. Since nandyan pa siya, hindi naman kami umaasa sa kanya [lang] pero lahat kailangan mag-trabaho eh, hindi isang tao lang," La Salle deputy coach Noel Orcullo said.
"Sabi nga, it's a team game. Hindi individual. Kaya lahat, inaasahan sa team," he added.
He did point out, however, how incoming sophomore Shevana Laput will take on a bigger role as she continues to fill in the shoes of an injured Leila Cruz, whose playing status for Season 86 remains uncertain as she recovers from an ACL injury sustained mid-season last year.
"Big role [gagampanan ni Shevana] since wala pa si Leila (Cruz). Siya 'yung nag-fill ng void nu'ng wala si Leila, so I think nakaka-adjust naman 'yung bata," said Orcullo.
Hunters, now hunted again
After successfully hunting down the Lady Bulldogs to reclaim the UAAP crown following NU's emphatic tournament sweep in Season 84, it will once again be the Lady Spikers' turn to carry the targets on their backs.
And for Orcullo, who's been alongside multi-titled mentor Ramil de Jesus through years past and in one championship run after another, defending the crown is much harder than winning it for the first time.
"Mas mahirap ngayong season kasi kami 'yung defending champions, unlike before na kami 'yung naghahabol. Kami ngayon ang hinahabol ng lahat ng teams so apakahirap tapos marami pang nawala. Although nag-prepare naman kami, tignan na lang natin pagdating ng laro kung ano 'yung na-improve nila sa preparation namin," Orcullo stressed.
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.
