La Salle’s Justine Jazareno. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—La Salle libero Justine Jazareno was extra motivated to get back at University of Santo Tomas, which dealt her team’s only loss this UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
The Lady Spikers were also seeking revenge on their 2019 squad, led by Des Cheng and Tin Tiamzon who got eliminated by the Tigresses, bannered by Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure, in a virtual best-of-three Final Four series in Season 81 four years ago.
Those setbacks lit the fire under Jazareno as she protected the floor with 22 digs and 16 excellent receptions in La Salle’s vengeful 26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 25-19 win over the Laure-led UST in the Final Four on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Siguro binawi lang po namin yung pagkatalo namin and naging motivation siya sa amin na going into finals kasi knowing nga po na natalo before yung mga seniors namin ngayon. Binigay po namin ‘to para sa kanila,” said Jazareno after booking their second straight trip to the Finals.
(We bounced back from our loss and we used it as a motivation going to the finals knowing that our seniors lost to (UST) before. We offer this win to them.)
Alleiah Malaluan, who scored nine points off the bench, agreed with Jazareno, drawing inspiration from Cheng, Tiamzon, and other former Lady Spikers Kianna Dy, Ara Galang, Kim Fajardo, Dawn Macandili-Catindig, Cha Cruz-Behag, and Majoy Baron watching their game.
“Knowing the ates were watching, we were more motivated to play and win it for them,” Malaluan said in Filipino.
La Salle will face defending champion National University in a Finals rematch starting on Sunday at the Big Dome.
Jazareno said they will keep the same mindset as they try to end La Salle’s five-year title drought and avenge their Finals loss to NU last year.
“Sa amin, tuloy lang. Tuloy lang yung hard work, yung composure namin and yung fighting spirit sa finals,” the libero said. (We will continue our hard work and show our composure and fighting spirit in the Finals.)
In their second straight Finals duel, the Lady Spikers seek to assert their mastery of the Lady Bulldogs as they have yet to drop a set in their two matches during the elimination round.