The DLSU Lady Spikers looked vulnerable in their first five-setter of UAAP Season 88 against the Adamson Lady Falcons.
La Salle veteran Angel Canino was one of the first to hold her team accountable in a tightly fought five-set win over the Adamson Lady Falcons, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 13-25, 15-5, for their sixth win in UAAP Season 88 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
After a close-to-perfect start to their season where they dropped only one set in five matches, the Lady Falcons pushed La Salle to the brink with a stunning opening set win.
Though they recovered in time, capping off the victory with a lopsided fifth set win, there was a lot of room for improvement. As one of the team's leaders, Canino acknowledged that the Lady Spikers seemed too hung up on the past.
Heading into the match with tremendous momentum, she said that they were still caught up with previous success.
"[Noong] first set, tama si coach [Noel Orcullo]. Tight talaga kami. Hindi talaga kami gumalaw as one na may sistema. Siguro kasi dahil naisip namin kung anong nangyari noong past few games namin," Canino said.
"Hindi namin binitawan kung anong nangyari, and i-improve yung ganong bagay. And lumabas yung laro namin noong second set and third set."
La Salle met an Adamson side that is coming off of a momentum building win against the UST Golden Tigresses.
Led by UAAP Player of the Week Shaina Nitura, the Lady Falcons sent UST spiraling with a three-set sweep.
Tapping into their championship mentality, La Salle was able to recover to gain the 2-1 advantage, with Canino and Shevana Laput providing the offense.
But when it came to closing Adamson out, they had a ways to go.
"Noong fourth set, medyo nag-lie low kami. Yung kumpiyansa namin, imbis na pataas, bumaba. Inasahan na lang namin na baka magkamali yung kalaban. Lumaban yung kalaban namin," said Canino.
"And talagang noong fifth set, pinusuan talaga namin," she added.
La Salle went toe-to-toe with Adamson in the early goings, when the Lady Falcons were within striking distance of the league leaders, 5-7.
With the game on the line, La Salle found their touch anew -- especially with their blocking.
Alongside Canino and Laput, up-and-coming spiker Shane Reterta provided the goods to finish off Adamson with an 8-0 scoring run, 15-5.
For Canino, the team's fifth set effort proved that the team is ready for the big challenges, even with their shortcomings in the match against Adamson.
"Hindi lang kami yung mga senior na nasa loob, kundi yung mga bata. Marami kaming pagkakamali, pero when it comes to fifth set, na-prove naman ng mga bata at na-prove naman namin na may galaw din talagang kami. Na may kaya kaming ilabas," said Canino.
"Doon lang nagkakatalo sa kung sino mas may gustong manalo ngayon. And ayun, gusto din namin patunayan na ayaw namin umuwi na talo kami.”
Thanks to their unshaken attitude, the Lady Spikers remain on top in the standings with a 6-0 slate heading into their finals rematch against the NU Lady Bulldogs this weekend.
La Salle brings tremendous momentum from the win against Adamson, led by Laput's career-high 26 points while Canino and Reterta flaunted all-around games.
Canino had 19 points, 11 excellent digs, and 12 excellent receptions. Meanwhile, Reterta had 19 points, 12 excellent digs, and 11 excellent receptions.
Adamson was paced by Frances Mordi's 22 points while Nitura added 21 markers in the losing effort.
The Lady Falcons fall to 3-3 before their clash against the UP Fighting Maroons to close out the first round of UAAP Season 88 this Saturday.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.