La Salle’s Angel Canino supports her team in the Shakey’s Super League Finals. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — In her absence, Angel Canino remained proud of the De La Salle Lady Spikers after they pulled off a finals series comeback against the rebuilding but gritty Adamson Lady Falcons to rule the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) National Invitationals.
As her team opted to rest her, the UAAP rookie MVP accepted her coach’s decision and cheered for her teammates every game, believing that this SSL tournament was the time for others to step up, like what Shevana Laput did following an impressive MVP performance.
“For me, if sabi ng coach na I need to rest, rest ako and nirerespeto ko naman yun,” said Canino shortly after La Salle’s title-clinching 25-19, 25-22, 25-17 win over Adamson in a do-or-die Finals Game 3 on Sunday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
“Hindi ko ni-look forward na sana andiyan ako kasi time nila po yan and happy ako para sa kanila,” she added.
(If my coaches said I need to rest, I will follow and respect that. I didn’t look forward to playing because it’s the [other players’] time and I am happy for them.)
La Salle Lady Spikers during the Shakey’s Super League National Invitational Finals. MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Without Canino and libero Justine Jazareno, La Salle drew stellar effort from Laput, Thea Gagate, and fit-again Alleiah Malaluan while also getting significant contributions from its new starting middle blocker Amie Provido and main setter Julia Coronel as the Lady Spikers rebounded from a Game 1 collapse by winning the next two games of the championship series in back-to-back nights.
Canino lauded her teammates for not making excuses with a shorthanded side and stepping up big time in their first tournament sans graduates Jolina Dela Cruz and Mars Alba as well as pro-bound Fifi Sharma.
“Like what our coaches said, they can’t look for who is not here. I’m proud of them because they depend on each other and trust themselves. It all starts with self-confidence and through their confidence, they did well individually and as a team,” she said in Filipino.
La Salle is still deciding if it will join the 2nd Preseason Collegiate Championship later this year and who will be the players who will see action.
But Canino promises that she and the Lady Spikers won’t stop building up for their title-retention bid in the UAAP Season 86 next year.
“This title won’t stop us from working hard. We know that Shakey’s is a preparation for us to gauge the things we have to fix and improve. This league is a lesson for us to learn from our mistakes individually and as a team,” Canino said.