With a Final Four berth already secured, Shevana Laput and the rest of the DLSU Lady Spikers will look to grab a twice-to-beat advantage despite the absence of reigning MVP Angel Canino in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
De La Salle University is faced with a rather unfamiliar situation heading into the rest of their games in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
With Angel Canino’s playing status still unclear for the rest of the season, the Lady Spikers will have to move forward with their title defense campaign without the reigning MVP.
It’s not the first time that La Salle will be playing without Canino, having already won the 2023 Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals before Season 86.
That’s why in their hard-fought four-set victory over the University of the Philippines, it was Shevana Laput who stepped up big in Canino’s absence, finishing with 21 points built on 18 attacks, two blocks, and one service ace.
“Of course, with Angel, we're not sure [when she'll be back] but there's a need to step up, so I guess yeah there is that pressure but I'm glad that my team and the coaches have that trust in me. But it's also not just me, there's ate Alleiah, there's ate Maicah, there's all of us. It just so happens that in this game, I had the most points,” Laput said during the post-game press conference.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Angel Canino day-to-day with right arm injury, says La Salle deputy Noel Orcullo]
Despite faltering in the third set and almost allowing the Fighting Maroons to force a fifth and deciding set, Laput and the rest of the Lady Spikers persevered to grab their eighth win in the season for an 8-1 record. It was good enough for second place in the standings after Thursday's matches.
“That game definitely wasn't our best. Even if people think that's our best, we know as a team that we can do better. Angel is a big factor but there's 13 of us in the team who can step up,” said Laput.
Also contributing big time in DLSU’s win was veteran role player Maicah Larroza, who was given extended playing time as she added 12 points, 10 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions.
“Siguro kailangan ready lang din lahat nung nasa labas in case na kung sino 'yung ipasok, kailangan mag-deliver kami and hindi naman 'yun magagawa ng isang tao lang,” said Larroza. “Hindi naka-depend 'yung team namin sa isang tao lang. Lahat naman kaya mag-deliver and lahat naman may tiwala kami sa isa't isa.”
Having already secured a Final Four slot, the Lady Spikers will now look to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in their remaining games this season which still includes matches against fellow Final Four-bound teams National University and the University of Santo Tomas.
But first up for DLSU will be the University of the East on Tuesday, April 9 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao at 4:00 p.m.