By NIKOLE JAVIER
De La Salle held off University of Santo Tomas to begin its championship redemption and eked out a 25-20, 16-25, 25-8, 15-25, 16-14 win in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Lady Spikers managed to pick up themselves in the marathon match to tally their first win of the season.
Rookie Angel Canino made a rousing debut after delivering an impressive performance of 18 points built on 16 attacks, one block and an ace to begin its redemption campaign on a bright start.
Jolina dela Cruz and Leila Cruz added 14 and 12 markers, respectively.
The Lady Spikers opened the final frame with an early 5-1 lead before the Tigresses answered with a 5-1 run of their own to tie the game at 6-all.
La Salle would untangle itself from UST from six more deadlocks before Milena Alessandrini and Eya Laure put the match to rest with back-to-back errors.
"Sobrang intense talaga 'yong nangyari breaks of the game eh. Kahit sino na lang doon. Sinuwerte kami sa amin pumanig 'yong break. Learning experience. Nakakuha ng kumpiyansa," said interim La Salle head coach Noel Orcullo.
Laure paced the Tigresses with a 19-point outing, while Alessandrini added 10 markers in the losing effort as they stumble into their first loss of the season.