La Salle’s Angel Canino. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—It was a historic night for Angel Canino as she became only the league’s second rookie MVP and brought back the UAAP championship to La Salle after five years.
Canino, who earned the Season 85 MVP, Rookie of the Year, and 2nd Best Outside Spiker, delivered her promise to La Salle in her first year as she powered their comeback from two sets down to dethrone National University, 19-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-10, in Game 2 on Sunday in front 20,514 fans at Mall of Asia Arena.
The 19-year-old Canino played down all her achievements as the only important accolade for her is La Salle’s 12th title and the first in five years.
“Ayoko po isipin yung mga awards na makuha ko po kasi ang goal ko naman talaga ay maka-contribute sa team so kung ano po yung nakuha ko, kagaya ng sinabi ni coach Ramil (De Jesus), bonus lang po yun,” said Canino, who followed Bella Belen as the only rookie MVPs in the league.
“Ang totoong laban po talaga ay yung championship. Masaya naman po ako na nakuha yun pero para po yung sa team, hindi para sakin,” she added.
Angel Canino and the La Salle Lady Spikers celebrate the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball championship. UAAP PHOTO
When she received three individual awards, Canino promised to bring back the glory to La Salle during her MVP speech: Sa lahat po ng nandito, pangako po na hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi po nababalik yung korona sa La Salle.
True enough, Canino refused to lose, erupting for 19 points including six aces on top of eight excellent receptions to complete a series sweep of the Lady Bulldogs.
The former La Salle-Zobel star, who also brought a championship to the high school team in 2018 also against Nazareth School led by Belen, expressed her gratitude to her teammates, especially seniors Mars Alba and Jolina Dela Cruz.
“Nakaka-proud lang din po sa team namin kasi finally nakuha na po namin yung goal namin. Yung ultimate goal namin is mag-champion,” she said. “All around naman po sila kahit sa labas maaasahan mo sila. And yung naappreciate ko talaga sa kanila is kung paano sila mag-approach sa amin, kung paano yung leadership nila. Sobrang naa-appreciate ko po yun kasi malaking factor samin yung sisterhood, yung may mag-lead samin.”