Lady Spikers, Lady Fighting Maroons stave off comeback bids to notch lovely starts in UAAP S88

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers and the University of the Philippines (UP) Lady Fighting Maroons showed heart and withstood late surges from their opponents to begin their UAAP Women’s Volleyball Season 88 run at the Mall of Asia Arena (MOA) on Feb. 14.

La Salle leaned on a 23-point explosion from newly-minted team captain Shevana Laput and late 6–2 comeback run in the final set to seize a 25–19, 25–14, 27–25 victory over the Far Eastern University (FEU) Lady Tamaraws. 

Down 22–24 after facing a desperate FEU team in set three, Laput chipped in a crucial score to keep DLSU alive, then, fourth-year veteran Angel Canino tied the game after a long rally, forcing an extension on a 24–24 tie.

Fittingly, a few plays later, it was the towering Laput who spiked the ball above the Lady Tamaraw defenders to score the final two points of the match and secure spare time for a valentine date night.

Post-match, Laput voiced that La Salle stayed disciplined in the first two sets yet lost some control in the third period until the team rallied back to what worked in the opening stages.

“To be honest, I just didn’t want to play another set. I just wanted us to end this game right now so that we can all go home and everyone can enjoy their Valentine’s day,” the 22-year old stated.

The Lady Spikers asserted dominance early behind heavy serves and range, notching four service aces just in the first set paired with Laput’s nine-points in the opening frame. 

DLSU continued to command the match in the second set, this time behind Amie Provido’s defense as she finished with 11 points built on six blocks, four attacks, and an ace. Canino also contributed 15 points, none bigger than 10 markers in the third set to keep La Salle afloat amid FEU’s desperate push.

Lady Tamaraws team captain Gerz Petallo was the only player to notch double-figures for her squad with 11 points.

Up next, La Salle seeks to sustain a finals-caliber momentum in their next match versus the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses on Feb. 22, 3pm at MOA, while FEU squares off against the University of the East (UE) Lady Warriors on Feb. 18, 4pm at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

State U holds on

The UP Fighting Maroons derailed a UE Lady Warriors upturn, 25–12, 25–9, 21–25, 25–19, as Fabio Menta captured his maiden win as a head coach in the UAAP to open the ladies doubleheader. 

In their final year of UAAP eligibility, UP veterans Irah Jaboneta and Niña Ytang sparked a 12–7 run in the fourth set built on soft spikes. 

The Fighting Maroons also capitalized on four opponent errors to pull ahead a 19–14 lead.

Then, the Katipunan-based team kept steady until Kianne Olango iced the match with a powerful hit that sped past the UE defenders. 

Jaboneta finished with 14 points on 13 attacks and an ace, Ytang also scored 14 points, and Casiey Donggalo sizzled in her State U debut with 13 points, two digs and two receptions.

Meanwhile, for UE, Van Bangayan’s game-high 19 points on 16 attacks, two blocks, and an ace went in vain as Bea Zamudio added 14 markers, while KC Cepada tallied 10 points.

UP looked unstoppable in the first two sets, capping both frames in just 22 minutes behind the strong serves of Jaboneta and five aces. 

However, when they met the stiff resistance from UE in the third set, they hardly budged and minimized their unforced faults to grind out the victory.

The Fighting Maroons aim to continue developing the talent on its retooled roster, seeking to bounce back from a 6-8 slate in season 87 as they will lock horns next against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Feb. 22 at MOA.

With reports from One Sports and ABS-CBN News.