DLSU Lady Spikers attempt to force a decider against defending champions NU on Wednesday.
Angel Canino and Shevana Laput will try to extend the season for the DLSU Lady Spikers as they face a must-win situation against the NU Lady Bulldogs in Game Two of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball Finals on Sunday, May 12, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 0-1 in the best-of-three series, La Salle must deliver a statement game to force a winner-take-all Game Three and prevent NU from completing a championship sweep.
The Lady Spikers are also looking to break out of a four-game slump against the Lady Bulldogs, who have had their number since the second round of Season 86.
Canino, last year’s Rookie-MVP, will once again be La Salle’s centerpiece, while Best Opposite Spiker Shevana Laput is expected to raise her game after a quiet performance in the series opener.
Together, they’ll anchor the team’s charge against a powerhouse NU squad led by three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen, who is coming off a stellar all-around showing.
Belen, along with key contributors Alyssa Solomon and Vange Alinsug, has NU eyeing a quick finish to the series and a shot at cementing its recent dominance in the collegiate scene.
But if La Salle can summon the same form that carried them past UST in the Final Four, fans could be in for a dramatic finale to a finals rivalry that has defined recent seasons.
With their championship hopes on the line, the Lady Spikers are expected to come out swinging.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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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.]