For La Salle star Angel Canino, having a confident supporting cast makes the job all the more easier in UAAP Season 87.
Count Angel Canino as one of the biggest supporters of her teammates even when she isn’t on the court herself, as she reveled in being able to see more players flourish for the DLSU Lady Spikers in a three-set win over the UE Lady Warriors at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
In their third straight win in round 2, La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus saw a total of nine Lady Spikers score in the resounding victory over the winless Lady Warriors, giving them breathing space as the no. 2 ranked team in the league with an 8-3 record.
[READ: UAAP: La Salle wallops UE for third straight win, tightens grip on no. 2 in standings]
Having had the burden of scoring for most of La Salle’s season, it’s a big relief for Canino to have the supporting cast for herself and fellow MVP candidate Shevana Laput as the Lady Spikers inch closer to the Final Four.
With teams now nursing their share of aches and injuries, having fresh players on the bench that are capable to score at all times will be big for the Lady Spikers, who are looking to return to the UAAP summit for the first time since Season 85.
“Individually, sobrang importante siya sa’min [na magkaron ng balanced scoring] kasi sa ibang teammates ko na hindi nagagamit, nagkakaroon sila ng kumpyansa sa sarili nila na kapag pumasok sila, kaya nila. Kapag sa training kasi, naniniwala kami na kaya nila. May skills din talaga sa bawat isa sa’min,” said Canino.
“At the same time, kapag nalabas nila yung skills na meron sila, feel namin yung gaan ng loob nila. Feel namin na may kumpyansa sila, so we’re very happy for that. At the same time, maaasahan din sila ng coaches kapag pinasok sila kasi pinatunayan nila na kaya nila kapag pinasok sila," she added.
La Salle has three games remaining in the elimination round and the Taft-based spikers are in a good place to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage provided they win out.
But Canino and the rest of the Lady Spikers remain wary of any speed bumps that may come their way.
“Kahit naman siguro panalo kami, marami pa rin kaming kailangang i-improve sa sarili namin and i-improve as a team din talaga,” said Canino.
“One game at a time so kailangan lang namin mag-focus ng game and mag-prepare nang todo-todo sa opponents namin para hindi na kami mawala sa landas at the same time. Yun din talaga yung goal namin na maabot sa number 2 na rank para makuha yung twice-to-beat advantage,” she added.
Canino still top-scored for La Salle with 16 points while Laput added 14 markers. But bench players, particularly Jill Santos, showed the way as well in the latter sets.
Santos, who played in just two sets, finished with six points — her best game so far for the Lady Spikers.
Canino and the rest of her team will return to action when they face the UP Fighting Maroons in their next game on Sunday, April 13, still at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.