La Salle out to extend dominance of Ateneo in UAAP volleyball

Angel Canino (left, photo above), will again spearhead La Salle’s offense. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Bitter rivals coming off contrasting fates battle it out in Season 86 of the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament for the first time, with La Salle trying to get back to winning and Ateneo seeking a follow-up to a breakthrough victory.

The Lady Spikers have a 12-game winning streak over the Lady Eagles going, a run that started on May 2, 2017, as Ateneo tries to put a stop to that while La Salle is still licking the wounds of a 25-18, 25-23, 14-25, 16-25, 15-12 loss to surprising University of Santo Tomas last Sunday.

“La Salle is a strong team,” said Ateneo’s Brazilian coach Sergio Veloso. “But no matter who plays on the other side, we will try to do our best. All the time, I tell our players to try to do your best.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball first round

“Play 100-110 percent and if the other team plays very well, too, it’s good. It’s good for the fans. Good for everybody.”

Angel Canino will remain to be the prime offensive weapon of La Salle, which ruled this tournament at the expense of Bella Belen and National University last season.

The reigning Most Valuable Player, Canino’s 28 points built around 24 attacks were put to naught in that defeat.

READ: UAAP volleyball: Sergio Veloso, Ateneo brace for ‘strong’ La Salle

Belen and the Lady Bulldogs, meanwhile, will be shooting to win a third straight game when they battle University of the Philippines in the other women’s contest at 2 p.m.

The idle Tigresses are sitting on top of the heap with a 3-0 card, having claimed the scalps of the last two champions of the tournament. Santo Tomas returns to the floor when it takes on Far Eastern on Sunday.

After scoring a career-high 24 points in their first win that came against University of the Philippines last Wednesday, Lyann de Guzman believes that Ateneo has what it takes to inflict a second straight defeat on the defending champions.

“We all know that (an) Ateneo-La Salle game is always big,” she said. “But we will do what our coach says, and that is to just keep playing, do our jobs and the points and the wins will come naturally.”