Angel Canino and the rest of La Salle banished the ghost of their previous heartbreak to UST in UAAP women's volleyball.
La Salle stumbled in the second set but flexed its might from there to dispose of University of Santo Tomas, 25-22, 11-25, 25-21, 25-21, and advance to the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao Saturday, May 3.
The Lady Spikers completed a two-game sweep of the Golden Tigresses in their playoff series after also prevailing in the battle for the No. 2 seed and the last twice-to-beat advantage just three days ago.
Angel Canino reacts during the La Salle Lady Spikers' Final Four joust with the UST Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Using its twice-to-beat advantage over third-ranked UST in their Final Four duel to the hilt, DLSU returned to the championship stage after two years. This also marked its 21st appearance in this round in UAAP history.
There, they will battle National University for the crown for the third time since UAAP Season 84.
[RELATED STORY: Defending champ NU completes reverse sweep vs FEU, advances to UAAP Season 87 Finals]
After being dethroned by UST in the Final Four last season, the Lady Spikers completed their revenge as they notched their third straight victory over their España rivals since their second round encounter this year.
Angel Canino provided the steady offense in all four sets but also drew able help from her teammates.
Alleiah Malaluan provided the clutch hits for DLSU in the nip-and-tuck fourth set, including back-to-back points to push the Taft-based squad ahead by three, 18-15.
Alleiah Malaluan of the La Salle Lady Spikers goes for a spike against UST Golden Tigresses' Angge Poyos during their UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball Final Four clash. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Not willing to go down without a fight with their season on the line, the Golden Tigresses went on an unanswered 4-0 run for a 20-all standoff, all thanks to Reg Jurado and Angge Poyos.
But the Lady Spikers sparked a 4-0 run of their own, punctuated by a Canino regalo hit that gave the Lady Spikers four match points.
While UST saved one after a successful challenge on a Poyos hit which was initially called outside, the sophomore hitter was eventually the one who put the nail in the coffin for her own team with a service error that gifted DLSU the victory.
Canino spearheaded the Lady Spikers with 19 points, six excellent digs and five excellent receptions. Shevana Laput added 14 markers.
Amie Provido, who supplied crucial points in the fourth set as well, had 15 points, while Malaluan fell one point short of a triple-double, ending with nine points, 15 excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions.
Poyos and Jurado paced UST in the losing effort with 22 and 21 points, respectively.