UAAP: Defiant La Salle keeps goals high despite Angel Canino injury

La Salle Lady Spikers star Angel Canino is sidelined with arm injury in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

There’s a chance that Angel Canino’s injuries due to an accident could keep the La Salle player in the freezer until May.

If that’s true, the Lady Spikers will be able to suit their star up for the playoffs.

The challenge is getting there. And it seems the rest of the team is up to the task.

READ: UAAP: La Salle stays locked in on goal as Angel Canino recovers

“Definitely, there’s a need to step up,” said Shevana Laput, who had 21 points in La Salle’s 26-24, 25-20, 24-26, 27-25 victory over University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Thursday night.

“Of course there’s pressure without Angel,” Laput said after generating 18 attacks en route to her output. “She is a big factor but there’s 13 of us in the team who can also step up.’’

As defiant as Laput sounds, she’s not the only one.

READ: UAAP: La Salle’s Angel Canino has right arm injury from accident

“Our team isn’t dependent on one player alone because everybody is capable to deliver,” Maicah Larroza, who had 12 points, 14 digs and 10 receptions, said.

“There’s still more that you haven’t seen from this team.’’

And even with Canino, last season’s Rookie-Most Valuable Player winner, sidelined due to cuts in her arms inflicted by a non-volleyball accident, La Salle isn’t adjusting its goals to more modest ones.

“It’s no secret that our target is to reach the top two spots in the semifinals,’’ said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo. “The players know it and we told them to always be ready, with or without Angel.”

No time frame

La Salle Lady Spikers, playing without Angel Canino, celebrate a point against UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Orcullo admitted there’s no time frame for Canino’s return yet, although sources told the Inquirer that La Salle is playing it conservative and expecting the powerful spiker to sit out the rest of the preliminaries.

The Lady Spikers will tackle the University of the East Lady Warriors on Tuesday next week before a scheduled clash with another title contender in National University (NU) on April 14.

That match should be critical in La Salle’s twice-to-beat bid since the NU Lady Bulldogs (8-2) are likewise aiming for a similar leverage along with Final Four qualifier University of Santo Tomas (9-1).

Alleiah Malaluan, who rescued La Salle from near defeat in the fourth set, fired 16 attacks on the way to 17 points while Julia Coronel finished with 17 excellent sets that went with five points and three blocks, capped by her deflection on Joan Monares’ attack at match point.