La Salle Lady Spikers. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines-La Salle again made beating Ateneo a mundane routine with a 25-22, 25-19, 25-18 victory to cement the top seeding in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball.
Rookie Shevana Laput came out with a career-high 16 points, highlighted by 15 attacks, and Angel Canino contributed 10 attacks out of her 12 points for the Lady Spikers, who sealed the No. 1 spot going into the playoffs with their 12th victory against a single defeat.
“We weren’t able to execute early. The other team played without pressure, so they fought hard. We recovered when we began following our game plan,” said Canino, who also finished with 11 receptions, five digs and three blocks.
Thea Gagate set the tone for the win, La Salle’s 12th straight in its head-to-head with arch nemesis Ateneo, with a prolific performance at the net in the first set.
La Salle’s Thea Gagate. UAAP PHOTO
The 6-foot-1 Gagate had 12 points, five blocks and two aces while team captain Mars Alba tossed 12 excellent sets for the Lady Spikers, who will enter the Final Four with a twice-to-beat protection.
“We told them not to relax, because Ateneo has adopted a nothing-to-lose mentality. We must always respect our opponents,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
Faith Nisperos scored 12 points for the Blue Eagles and delivered three aces, Vanessa Gandler had 13 attacks and Lyann Nisperos added 10 markers before spraining her ankle.
The Blue Eagles absorbed their ninth defeat in 13 outings and dropped every match of their fabled rivalry with La Salle since Season 79.