FOR La Salle seniors Angel Canino and Shevana Laput, every meeting with National U carries extra weight.
Since their UAAP Season 85 title win over the Lady Bulldogs, the Lady Spikers had managed just one victory in the six matchups that followed in Seasons 86 and 87.
From the high of that championship run, every loss to NU had stung - and stung deep.
That is why their four-set win on Sunday to cap a first-round sweep in Season 88 felt different.
READ: La Salle sends statement with four-set takedown of National U
For Laput, the triumph was more than just another tally in the standings. It was a sign that the green-and-white may finally be turning the tide.
“We had such a big hugot against this team. Ever since we were rookies, up until now, it’s still like this, so, of course, this means a lot to us,” she said, talking about herself and batchmates Canino and Amie Provido.
“Coming into the game, we knew that this is our time, this is our season. It’s now. We let them have their time, but now it’s time for us to step up and rise to the occasion and do what we know we can do, which is that we know we can be a championship-level team.”
For Canino, the win carried a similar meaning.
She entered the leauge on top of the world as champion, Rookie of the Year, and MVP, but the last two seasons saw the Lady Bulldogs repeatedly spoil their title hopes.
Sunday’s result felt like a step toward reclaiming what was once La Salle's signature winning legacy.
“Lalong-lalo na sa aming seniors, malaking bagay na ’tong panalo sa’min kasi nu’ng rookies kami, nandu’n ‘yung buong tiwala ng Lasallian community, ng buong team,” she said.
“Medyo hinayaan namin na magkaroon ng streak ‘yung NU against us, and sobrang laking sakit siguro ‘yung nakuha namin against NU kasi ilang beses naming ni-try talaga, pero hindi namin gawa.”
Taft towers rise once more
Beyond completing a seven-game sweep of the first round, the win served as a reminder of the standard the Lady Spikers wants to restore.
Seven games down, seven more to go, and possibly more once the playoffs arrive.
For Canino, the message is simple: this season is both a reminder and a reintroduction.
“Ngayong seniors kami, pinapangako talaga namin na pagpasok na pagpasok sa loob ng court, gusto namin na ipakilala ulit kung sino kami,” she said.
“Matagal na namin itong hinihintay. Ayaw na naming palagpasin ‘yung moment na ‘to kasi ito na ‘yung time. Wala nang ibang time para ipakita sa mga tao na once again, Lady Spikers kami.
“Lahat ng values na nandu’n as Lady Spikers, dito na makikita ngayong Season 88.”
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