Lady Spikers sweep UP for dominant tenth win
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers return to the winning column after a straight-sets victory over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 25–15, 25–16, 25–16, earlier today at the Philsports Arena.
Thea Gagate earned the Player of the Game nod with 11 points, nine coming off attacks and two from blocks.
La Salle got off to a superb start in the first set with a 8–4 score entering the first half. Shevana Laput made her first-ever UAAP start in place of the injured Leila Cruz, scoring early and putting pressure on UP with powerful serves. Coach Shaq delos Santos called for timeout at 10–4 following back-to-back points from the Lady Spikers and reduced their deficit to just four which subsequently prompted a timeout from coach Ramil de Jesus. DLSU went out of the second TTO up 16–10 and comfortably cruised to a 25–15 scoreline highlighted by three consecutive points from Angel Canino towards the end of the set.
The Lady Spikers opened Set 2 with a 3–0 lead before UP battled back and brought the game level at 4–4. Even with the Fighting Maroons’ efforts, La Salle kept their cool and went on a six-point run only broken by a service error from Gagate. Despite being known for their proficient blocking it was the attacks of DLSU that earned them majority of their points in the set with Canino, Laput, and Gagate all being the stars on offense. State U called for timeout down eight at the 12–20 mark, but they could only muster up four more points as La Salle claimed a 2–0 lead with a 25–16 frame.
UP earned their first lead of the entire game early in the third thanks to scores from Steph Bustrillo and Ethan Arce, however it was short-lived as DLSU converted the next five points. The Fighting Maroons overtook La Salle once again following a service ace by Arce but could not hold on as Laput gave La Salle the single-point lead at the first technical timeout. Both teams remained neck-and-neck until Canino exploded for three straight points, two of which came as back-to-back service aces. The superstar rookie’s efforts gave DLSU a narrow advantage which they turned into a 16–11 lead at the second TTO. La Salle scored six of the last seven points in the game to secure both the third set, 25–16, and a 3–0 sweep.
The Lady Spikers will aim to make it ten straight wins as they face the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons this Wednesday, April 19, 2PM at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
