La Salle dethrones NU, claims UAAP crown
Published May 14, 2023 11:33 am
De La Salle dethroned National University with a reverse sweep, 19-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-10, to claim the crown in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, May 14, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Lady Spikers put an end to their five-year title drought and extended their head-to-head record over the Lady Bulldogs to 4-0 this season.
*Rookie-Most Valuable Player awardee Angel Canino. (UAAP Media)*
Newly minted Rookie-Most Valuable Player Angel Canino scattered her team-high 19 points on 12 attacks, one block and six service aces to lead La Salle to its 12th championship title.
Thea Gagate, for her part, delivered six of her 17 points in the fifth set including the clincher that gave the Lady Spikers the crown.
After being down two sets, La Salle finally came to its senses and fought back in the last three to escape NU in a thrilling five-set victory.
In the third set, the Lady Spikers recovered from a four-point deficit before pulling away from the Lady Bulldogs and creating a comfortable 23-14 gap.
NU’s back-to-back attempts then went wide which allowed La Salle to pull itself within one set.
It was still the Lady Spikers throughout the fourth set as they finally equalized and dragged the Lady Bulldogs into a decider.
In the final set, La Salle surged to an early 5-1 advantage before NU eventually tied the match at 7-all.
Just as NU was about to fully recover after Alyssa Solomon’s powerful hit, 10-9, La Salle went on a telling 5-1 run capped by Thea Gagate’s quick attack.
“Sobrang saya. After five years na hindi kami nag champion, naudlot ‘yong four-peat. Ito nakabalik na naman sa napahirap na paraan pero napakasarap na pakiramdam. Nakuha sa tiyaga,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
Solomon paced NU with a 34-point eruption which was laid to waste.
*Rookie-Most Valuable Player awardee Angel Canino. (UAAP Media)*
Newly minted Rookie-Most Valuable Player Angel Canino scattered her team-high 19 points on 12 attacks, one block and six service aces to lead La Salle to its 12th championship title.
Thea Gagate, for her part, delivered six of her 17 points in the fifth set including the clincher that gave the Lady Spikers the crown.
After being down two sets, La Salle finally came to its senses and fought back in the last three to escape NU in a thrilling five-set victory.
In the third set, the Lady Spikers recovered from a four-point deficit before pulling away from the Lady Bulldogs and creating a comfortable 23-14 gap.
NU’s back-to-back attempts then went wide which allowed La Salle to pull itself within one set.
It was still the Lady Spikers throughout the fourth set as they finally equalized and dragged the Lady Bulldogs into a decider.
In the final set, La Salle surged to an early 5-1 advantage before NU eventually tied the match at 7-all.
Just as NU was about to fully recover after Alyssa Solomon’s powerful hit, 10-9, La Salle went on a telling 5-1 run capped by Thea Gagate’s quick attack.
“Sobrang saya. After five years na hindi kami nag champion, naudlot ‘yong four-peat. Ito nakabalik na naman sa napahirap na paraan pero napakasarap na pakiramdam. Nakuha sa tiyaga,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
Solomon paced NU with a 34-point eruption which was laid to waste.