Who is your queen this season?
And then, there were two.
The De La Salle Lady Spikers and the National University Lady Bulldogs arranged a finals rematch for the UAAP Season 85 women's volleyball championship
But the race for the MVP plum, though, is far from settled, with at least four spikers making a definitive case for themselves as Season 85's most valuable.
Here are the four favorites, with a case made for each one:
Eya Laure (UST)
The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses have already been eliminated, but it doesn't mean this Queen Tigress should be taken out of the MVP conversation.
Laure proved her firepower in Season 84 was no fluke by consistently finishing at the top of the scoreboard week after week. When coach Kungfu Reyes needed a point, Laure more often than not delivered the goods.
Near the final stretch of the elimination round, Laure was actually slaying the competition as the tournament's top scorer with 202 spikes, 25 blocks, and 13 aces. She proved she can do it all, figuring among the top blockers, servers, and diggers of the league.
The outside spiker continued to be an all-around force for UST in the final four, as shown by her 14 attacks, 12 excellent digs, and 11 excellent receptions in the semifinals against La Salle.
Check out Laure's 28-point output against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons:
Angel Canino (La Salle)
Super rookie and MVP contender to boot? Angel Canino might be the next rookie MVP after Bella Belen did it in Season 84.
This outside spiker has been neck-and-neck with Laure all throughout the season at the top of the scoreboard. Don't let the cute pigtails fool you: Canino is a killer spiker with a 36.80% success rate as of April 26.
The rookie from Taft can also take as much as she can give, finishing fifth in receives with a 40.21% efficiency. Imagine what she can do as part of the league-leading Lady Spikers in a best-of-three finals series.
Watch her killer spikes in this faceoff against UST in the eliminations:
Bella Belen (NU)
The Lady Bulldogs had a rough start to their title defense, but they managed to regain their momentum in the second round of the eliminations. On Sunday, they will be looking to achieve the one thing they have been unable to accomplish all throughout Season 85—beat La Salle.
Reigning rookie MVP Bella Belen may have been outshined by the likes of Laure, Canino, and Trisha Tubu of the Adamson Lady Falcons during the eliminations, but this Lady Bulldog still got her bite as she led NU back to the finals.
Belen was fourth among the tournament's top scorers as of April 26, with a spiking success rate of 38.33%. She is also in the top 10 in the serving department and has registered a 35.14% efficiency in receives.
In NU's semifinals showdown against Adamson, Belen proved her Season 84 MVP was no fluke as she fired 29 points on 22 attacks, 5 blocks, and 2 aces, along with 19 excellent receptions.
Check out how she demolished a squad like the University of the East Lady Red Warriors in the eliminations:
Jolina Dela Cruz (La Salle)
Another one from La Salle? Yes, why not?
Outside spiker Jolina Dela Cruz was nowhere near the top five scorers of the elimination round, but this ate for the Lady Spikers proved she has the younger players' back regardless where she was on the court and whatever role was given her.
Like Laure, Dela Cruz practically stuffed the stat sheet. She was the ninth best spiker as of April 26, with a 30.43% efficiency. Dela Cruz also bested two setters at the service line with 14 aces to her name.
Notably, Dela Cruz registered a 40.93% receiving efficiency, just behind three star liberos in UST's Bernadett Pepito, NU's Jen Nierva, and Adamson's Karen Verdeflor. Now that's an all-rounder.
Here are some highlights that prove Dela Cruz's MVP case:
The UAAP Season 85 volleyball awarding ceremonies will take place on May 14, Sunday, along with Game 2 of the finals.
(MDB)