LA SALLE claimed back-to-back wins for the first time in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at University of the East’s expense, 25-12, 23-25, 25-14, 25-17, on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
After dropping Set 2 to the Lady Warriors, the Lady Spikers refused to fall prey to an upset and locked in their third win out of five matches.
With a big boost from Jyne Soreno off the bench, Angel Canino & Co. went on a 13-1 tear to start to the third set and kept UE at bay the rest of the way.
Senior winger Soreno made the most of her extended game time with 12 points — nine in Set 3 alone. Canino then went one reception shy of another triple-double with 20 points, 10 digs, and nine receptions.
Already under pressure as a rookie playmaker, Mikole Reyes - sister of ex-La Salle ace Mika Reyes - had her best game yet with 23 excellent sets.
In the eyes of Lady Spikers deputy Noel Orcullo, it was a bad performance and ultimately, a bad win altogether.
"Nag-relax sila eh, parang hindi nila nirespeto. Hinintay na lang nila ang UE kung magkakamali o aayaw na," Orculoo said.
"Nandun na nga kami, pero binibitawan pa namin. Nandun na sa endgame, pagdating ng endgame, bibitaw. Although nanalo, hindi maganda yung resulta."
La Salle-Ateneo up next
The last time it took the green-and-white this long to string together consecutive victories was in Season 68 in 2006.
Still to come in La Salle’s first-round agenda to make amends for its worst start in nearly two decades are struggling Ateneo and the surging Far Eastern University.
As another chapter of the sport's storied collegiate rivalry unfolds in four days' time, Orcullo hopes to make sure they won't let their guard down once the Blue Eagles take aim at them.
"Same lang na preparation yung gagawin namin (against Ateneo). Kumbaga, kailangan naming tignan kung paano sila maglaro and in what way sila nag-improve," said Canino.
"Hindi basta-basta na kalaban yung Ateneo, so kailangan talaga naming mag-prepare sa kanila and yung mindset na meron kami as Lady Spikers, hindi dapat mawala yun"
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