Back again: La Salle rips NU, books 10th straight UAAP finals appearance

La Salle Lady Spikers. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Defending champion De La Salle continued its unbelievable finals streak after dumping National University 27-25, 25-22, 25-11 in the UAAP Season 80 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The first seed Lady Spikers, who are gunning for their third straight title, are headed to their 10th straight finals appearance, this time against no. 2 Far Eastern University, the same school they faced when the streak started.

La Salle wasted no time in handling NU in the third set after Tin Tiamzon’s two consecutive kills gave the Lady Spikers a 13-3 lead.

The Lady Spikers continued its dominance later in the set when substitute Norielle Ipac, who was put into the game in the final period, took advantage of NU’s discombobulated defense with a quick kill to give La Salle a 21-11 lead.

La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus said their two losses in the first round of the tournament helped develop the team’s character, and it was this fortitude they carried well into the Final Four.

“The players really developed their character and especially their maturity,” said De Jesus, whose team ended the eliminations on an eight-game winning streak, in Filipino.

“There were times we struggled but they overcame all those difficulties.”

Ipac once more featured in La Salle’s scoring exploits when she put La Salle at the 24-11 match point.

Kianna Dy led the Lady Spikers with 17 points while Tin Tiamzon and reigning MVP Mary Joy Baron combined for 20.

Jaja Santiago finished her career with 17 points in her final game to lead NU.