La Salle continues to seek full potential after masterclass vs UE

MANILA, Philippines – The DLSU Lady Spikers have yet to reach their maximum strength as the first round reaches its final stretch in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.

After playing an almost perfect game in the third set against UE on Wednesday, which they won in straight sets, 25-21, 25-18, 25-10, La Salle’s twin towers Shevana Laput and Thea Gagate expressed their desire for more in their games.

“We dominated the last set but we were really just playing our own game, sticking to our system, and trying to lessen our errors,” said Laput. 

“But it’s also like, that shouldn’t be our top performance. It’s so early in the season, our top performance should really be when it’s in the finals so you know, that’s not the standard,” she added.

Gagate herself has been playing well, with back-to-back games with five block points to her name. But as the season goes by, she only sees her game getting better and better.

“Unti-unti [nakukuha yung form]. Ang iniisip ko lang is yun nga kailangan nang mamaximize yung strength ko, which is blockings. Mas dun yung dapat yung mas extra-focused ako. One game at a time lang,” said Gagate.

Understandably, one of the biggest motivators for Laput and Gagate was their sole loss of the season so far against the UST Golden Tigresses.

Now with two straight three-set wins under their belt since then, it’s all about sticking to the system and continuing to flesh out their training.

“After the loss, for us, we needed to stick to our system, go back to our basics but also play with pride and play with joy,” said Laput.

“Wala namang may gusto na matalo kaya kailangan din namin yung game na yun. Yun nga, as you've mentioned po, wake-up call yun sa amin and mas kailangan namin magfocus sa bawat galaw and yun nga, mas i-lessen pa yung errors every game,” added Gagate.

UP will be the next target for La Salle before they end the first round in a finals rematch against the NU Lady Bulldogs.

The Lady Spikers face off with the hapless Fighting Maroons on Sunday, March 10.