Angel Canino. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle rookie Angel Canino remained proud of former high school mentor and now Far Eastern University coach Tina Salak after their first match against each other in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
Canino delivered 13 points to keep La Salle undefeated in five games after beating Salak’s FEU, 25-16, 25-18, 25-21, on Saturday at Philsports Arena.
The 19-year-old spiker credited the Lady Tamaraws’ improvement to Salak, who coached her at La Salle-Zobel in the UAAP girls’ division.
“Coach Tina is a disciplined coach and I think that’s the reason behind FEU’s improvement within less than a year,” said Canino in Filipino. “I’m so proud of her and I’m happy because she really wants to teach and help young players improve.”
“Even we’re facing coach Tina. I have high respect for her as the coach, who first recruited and trusted me,” she added.
FEU coach Tina Salak. UAAP PHOTO
Salak steered La Salle-Zobel to a UAAP Season 81 Girls’ championship that ended Nazareth School’s four-year reign—the same season Canino won the Season MVP.
The FEU coach also handled Lady Spikers’ Alleiah Malaluan and Justine Jazareno.
“For me, coach Tina really disciplined us in high school. And going up against her, I still respect her and at the same time, I’m proud of her as a head coach of FEU. She will help FEU reach places,” Malaluan said in Filipino after returning from a minor knee injury.
Canino said their latest win will serve as a confidence booster heading to their last two games of the first round.
“It boosted the team’s confidence and I’m proud of my team because we pushed ourselves and showed a lot of improvement defensive-wise,” Canino said.
La Salle battles Adamson on Sunday next week at Filoil EcoOil Centre before its finals rematch against defending champion National University on March 22 at Mall of Asia Arena.
“We have to be all out as individuals and as a team. We have to bring out our best because our last two games won’t be easy for us. So we have to be all out,” she said.