THE Lady Spikers aren’t called the ‘Taft towers’ for nothing.
Blocking has long been La Salle’s strong suit in UAAP women’s volleyball - and a signature weapon of 12-time champion coach Ramil de Jesus in his decorated 28-year tenure.
Under his leadership, the green-and-white has produced some of Philippine volleyball’s most formidable middle blockers — past and present — in the likes of Maureen Penetrante, Aby Maraño, Majoy Baron, Fifi Sharma, and Thea Gagate, among many others.
In Season 87, the Lady Spikers finished the elimination round as the second-best blocking team with 2.33 kill blocks in 14 matches.
And when the stakes were at their highest, La Salle leaned on what it knows best to put University of Santo Tomas away for the No. 2 seed and the twice-to-beat bonus.
READ: La Salle tops UST to take second seed, twice-to-beat advantage
A season-best 20 blocks lifted the Lady Spikers over the Golden Tigresses, 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 39-27, just three days before their Final Four duel.
It was lead middle blocker Amie Provido who had the lion’s share of a herculean defensive production with five blocks.
La Salle block party in the house tonight
But what exactly is La Salle’s philosophy when it comes to building one of the sport’s most unassailable fortresses?
“Sa’min naman, sinasabi namin sa kanila yung sa blocking, hindi naman dahil sa tangkad eh, it's all about timing eh. How to read the setter, kung paano niya ise-set, at paano papaluin,” said deputy caoch Noel Orcullo.
“Kung ano yung iniisip nung spiker kailangan mabasa mo kung paano niya gagawin na palo at doon ka magbasa para ma[timingan] yung block, ma-block mo siya. Kailangan basahin mo kung ano yung mga gagawin ng kalaban mo."
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