La Salle’s Alleiah Malaluan during Game 2 of the Shakey’s Super League Finals. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Alleiah Malaluan vows to fight for pride and impose La Salle’s will in the do-or-die Finals Game 3 against Adamson for the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals crown on Sunday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
UAAP champion La Salle lived another day as it swept Adamson, 25-23, 25-12, 25-18, to force a rubber match.
“Kailangan naming ipakita na La Salle kami. Yung pride kailangang panghawakan,” said Malaluan after scoring six points in Game 2. “Siyempre, defending champions kami. Kailangang patunayan sa mga nanonood and sa supporters namin.”
(We have to show that we’re La Salle and hold onto our pride. Of course, we’re the defending champions and we have to prove it in front of our supporters watching our games.)
The incoming third-year spiker said they learned their lesson from their 25-22, 17-25, 25-17, 25-27, 14-16 collapse in Game 1 where they blew an 11-20 lead in the fourth set.
La Salle’s Alleiah Malaluan during a game against Adamson in the Shakey’s Super League Finals. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“We’re motivated from that loss. As defending champions, we need to prove ourselves. We were able to execute our hardships from our training the past few days,” she said in Filipino.
The fit-again Malaluan, who saw limited action in La Salle’s Season 85 title run due to a knee injury, has been displaying flashes of her old form in the SSL tournament.
A win away from another title this year, coach Noel Orcullo reiterated to the Lady Spikers to come to the venue with a strong desire to rule the tournament.
“We can’t say that the momentum is already on our side because Adamson is also motivated. We have to impose our will and show the same aggression tomorrow,” he said in Filipino.