No more heartbreaks this time around for the defending champion DLSU Lady Spikers after escaping with a five-set victory over the NU Lady Bulldogs.
After going up 12-9 in the fifth set against the NU Lady Bulldogs, the De La Salle Lady Spikers saw themselves in familiar spot.
Last February 25, the Lady Spikers were also up three points in the final set against the UST Golden Tigresses, only for them to squander their lead and give the España-based squad the victory.
But this time around, there were no more heartbreaks for La Salle.
With their only loss so far in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament coming from that five-set defeat to UST, Angel Canino and the rest of the champion Lady Spikers made sure that the result would be different this time around against Final rival NU.
"'Yung key lesson talaga is 'yung sa fifth set. Naaala niyo 'yung fifth set. Huwag umasa sa lamang kasi 'yun nga 'yung nangyari sa UST, lamang na kami pero natalo pa kami, so 'yun talaga biggest lesson namin," Canino said during the post-game press conference.
"Ayun nga, down kami sa sets, kailangan namin lumaban, kailangan namin pakita kung ano meron pa kami. Ilabas 'yung puso," the reigning MVP added.
Shevana Laput, who finished with a season-high 20 points, was also one in making sure that La Salle would secure the victory this time around.
"We learned that we can't be complacent, that we have to keep working harder than the other team. It's also who wants it more; we want it more," said Laput.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: De La Salle shows championship poise in thrilling five-set win over NU]
Meanwhile, Amie Provido, who also had a stellar game versus NU with 14 points built on nine attacks and five blocks, likewise had another lesson in mind from their game versus UST which proved useful in their hard-fought win over the Lady Bulldogs.
"Siguro pag mga five-setter match, importante na iwasan talaga 'yung errors and nakita ko din kanina na na-lessen namin errors namin sa Set 5 kaya namin nakuha," said Provido.
With the win, the champs ended round 1 with a strong 6-1 card, and De La Salle certainly looks poised for another deep playoff run as the team continues to apply the lessons they learn with each passing game.