Canino will look to sustain her standout UAAP season, beginning with her 14-point showing in La Salle's opening day victory.
Following up a stellar Rookie-MVP season will be a tough task for Angel Canino.
Canino hoisted both top individual awards last year, with her team, De La Salle, also lifting the UAAP women's volleyball trophy.
But as early as the Lady Spikers' first game of Season 86, mentor Ramil De Jesus already found an improvement in the 5-foot-11 outside hitter's game.
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"Sa ngayon, mas nakita ko si Angel na mas mature maglaro compared noong last season. Kasi months lang siya under sa akin [noon],"De Jesus, who grabbed his 300th coaching triumph in the league Saturday, said during the post-game presser.
Canino had a solid outing in La Salle's straight-set 25-16, 25-16, 25-18 opening game win against Adamson, hammering 11 attacks and putting up three blocks for a game-best 14 points.
As a whole, however, De Jesus admits that the Lady Spikers will need to work on their chemistry with key losses in playmaker and Finals MVP Mars Alba and libero Justine Jazareno.
"Kailangan pa nilang mas mag-gel kasi marami 'yung nawala lalo na 'yung setter. Napakahirap palitan 'yung setter last year and then 'yung libero. Kasi kung hindi stable 'yung pasa ng libero, mahihirapan 'yung setter," said De Jesus.
"Siguro, kailangan naming mag-adjust nang todo-todo doon at 'yun dapat talaga ang i-work out namin," he added.
Setter Julia Coronel and libero Lyka de Leon now fill up the void as the Lady Spikers gun to keep their hold of the throne.