Winners of their Season 85 series, the DLSU Lady Spikers look to repeat against new-age rival NU in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball Finals.
The DLSU Lady Spikers are back where they belong—in the Finals—after missing out last year, and they return with redemption on their minds and history behind them.
Now with 21 Finals appearances, the most in the Final Four era, La Salle is ready to renew its growing rivalry with the defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs.
Their third showdown for the title starts Sunday, May 11.
Underdogs With Championship Pedigree
Seeded no. 2 with a 9-5 record, La Salle had to fight its way into this stage, beating UST in a playoff for the second seed and then dispatching the Golden Tigresses again in the Final Four.
The wins were especially sweet, considering it was UST that eliminated La Salle in Season 86.
While NU enters the Finals as favorites, La Salle holds a psychological edge, having swept NU in the Season 85 Finals, powered by a then-rookie MVP Angel Canino, who remains the team’s emotional and scoring leader.
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Canino now shares the spotlight with Shevana Laput, whose breakout season placed her in the MVP conversation.
Amie Provido and Alleiah Malaluan round out La Salle’s potent scoring core, giving coach Ramil de Jesus multiple offensive weapons.
Blocking and Reception Excellence
Statistically, La Salle stacks up well. They’re second only to NU in spiking, serving, and setting—but where they shine brightest is on defense.
The Lady Spikers lead the league in blocking and receiving, with four players in the top-10 in blocks, a testament to their system and discipline.
Ready to Flip the Script
Though NU has looked unstoppable this season, La Salle’s championship experience, defensive prowess, and familiarity with the big stage make them a legitimate threat.
With revenge, rivalry, and redemption all in the mix, the Lady Spikers are out to reclaim their crown and spoil NU’s title defense in another chapter of one of the UAAP’s fiercest duels.
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]