La Salle shoots for UAAP crown

MANILA, Philippines — La Salle aims for the bullseye against reigning champion National U in a bid to complete redemption and annex the throne once more in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

With arrows up, locked and loaded, the Lady Spikers shoot for the kill in Game 2 at 4 p.m. against the Lady Bulldogs and try to settle the score – after a bridesmaid finish last season – via sweep.

La Salle dealt the first blow on NU in their best-of-three rematch with a thrilling 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13 escape act, and wants no let-up despite an expected resistance from the defending titlist.

More than completing a vengeance, La Salle sports a pretty chance to snare its first volleyball crown in five years and 12th overall under the brilliance of seasoned mentor Ramil de Jesus.

“Ganoon pa rin ang mindset namin. Game 1 pa lang ‘yun so hindi pa tapos. Tuloy-tuloy kami para sa goal at ‘yun ay ang makuha ang Game 2,” said assistant coach Noel Orcullo, in behalf of De Jesus.

La Salle’s win in Game 1 made it three straight victories against NU for a full turnaround after being swept without a single set triumph last season.

It will not be a walk in the park but the Lady Spikers are out to get job done once and for all.

“Hindi kami titigil kasi may next game pa,” added super rookie Angel Canino, who also has a strong case for the MVP plum in the awarding ceremony prior to the match with fellow candidates in UST’s Eya Laure, NU’s Mhicaela Belen and her teammate Jolina dela Cruz.

The Lady Bulldogs, as anticipated, are not to go down and surrender their throne without a fight in a bid to force a winner-take-all Game 3 with Belen and Alyssa Solomon leading the way.

In the first game at 2 p.m., unbeaten NU goes for its 34th straight win and three-peat against Santo Tomas. The Bulldogs drew first blood, 25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 29-31,15-11.

“Sana makuha na namin,” said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin.