La Salle added another hardware to an already stacked treasure chest by reigning supreme as the first Shakey’ Super League (SSL) National Invitationals champion with a 25-19, 25-22, 25-17 win in Game 3 against Adamson on Sunday, Aug. 13, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

It was another masterclass for the on-target Lady Spikers, shooting down the Lady Falcons in only 89 minutes of play to pull off a reverse sweep in the best-of-three titular showdown.

La Salle absorbed a five-setter heartbreaker in Game 1, 25-22, 17-25, 25-17, 25-27, 14-16, but equalized with a 25-23, 25-12, 25-18 clinic in Game 2 that only set the stage for another dominant showing in the winner-take-all match behind a slew of contributors.

Tournament MVP Shevana Laput unloaded 13 points on 11 hits and two blocks to lead four players in double digits as La Salle expanded its kingdom to the SSL after lording over in the UAAP last season.

She averaged 20.3 points in the finals highlighted by a 30-point eruption in Game 1 before putting up 18 in Game 2.

Thea Gagate (1st Middle Blocker), Amie Provido (2nd Best Middle Blocker) and Alleiah Malaluan (2nd Best Outside Hitter) chipped in 10 points apiece in La Salle’s supremacy in the 12-team SSL nationwide tourney presented by Eurotel as the official hotel and Victory Liner as office transport provider, and in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

“Sa amin, exposure ang hanap namin dito pero ito bonus na nag-champion. Maganda kasi kahit paano, nakita namin ‘yung mga kulang pa at kailangang i-adjust pagdating ng UAAP,” said assistant coach Noel Orcullo as the Lady Spikers still rose to another throne even without UAAP Rookie-MVP Angel Canino.

Trailing by 8-11 early in the first set, La Salle uncorked a 10-1 barrage capped by a Gagate block to take command at 18-12 and eventually bagged a 25-19 win that served as its stepping stone for a rousing second set start by leading as many as 11 points.

Building a massive 18-7 separation off a Laput hit, the Lady Spikers nearly crumbled to the Lady Falcons’ 15-5 uprising for only a 23-22 cushion following a Malaluan error before Provido hammered one down and Gagate put on a single block to rescue them with a narrow 25-22 win.

La Salle was never threatened from there on, getting off to the races with a red-hot 9-4 start en route to claiming the crown in the historic SSL tourney also by backed by Mikasa, Team Rebel Sports, Summit Bottled Water, Genius Sports, Potato Corner, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar, and R&B Tea.

Lucille Almonte, who erupted for 24 points in a stunning Game 1 escape act for the Lady Falcons, had 11 points to lead their commendable silver medal finish under new coach JP Yude after finishing third in the UAAP Season 85.

Other awardees included Bernadett Pepito (Best Libero) and Angeline Poyos (1st Best Outside Hitter) of the University of Santo Tomas, which bagged the bronze medal with a 2-0 sweep of the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.

All SSL matches are accessible across all platforms live and on-demand with Plus Network Digital Media Services, CNN Philippines, Solar Sports Entertainment and TAP Sports serving as media partners.

The historic National Invitationals, with support from Boy Tuikinhoy of Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc., Alex Adeva of Northern Mindanao Volleyball Association of Coaches and Referees and San Juan Red Cross chapter, are also showing live in all Shakey’s branches nationwide.