Lady Spikers aim to stay unscathed, take on Lady Falcons

Games Saturday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

9 a.m. – UST vs Ateneo (men)

11 a.m. – La Salle vs AdU (men)

1 p.m. – UST vs Ateneo (women)

3 p.m. – La Salle vs AdU (WOMEN)

MANILA, Philippines — It will not be a walk in the park like the first encounter, but La Salle brims with confidence to extend its perfect campaign against the dangerous Adamson in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball second round Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Following a first-round wipeout, the mighty Lady Spikers dive back into action for an 8-0 bid to create a larger gap from the pack of chasers at 3 p.m. opposite the Lady Falcons (4-3) out to stay in the Top 4 hunt.

La Salle holds a two-game advantage from its closest challenger National U (6-2), the reigning champion, as Adamson lurks behind in joint fourth with University of Santo Tomas – eyeing to catch up Far Eastern University (5-3) at third in a wild race to start the crucial second phase.

UST (4-3) seeks the same mission as Adamson against Ateneo (1-6) at 1 p.m.

Men’s teams star in the morning matches, featuring UST against Ateneo at 9 a.m., followed by La Salle versus Adamson at 11 a.m.

Out of La Salle’s seven wins though, it was the Lady Falcons who had to make the Lady Spikers work the hardest following, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21, 13-25, 15-5, for their only five-setter duel so far.

In total, La Salle only dropped four sets in the first round, including a 25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17 domination of rival NU before more than 18,000 fans to end the round with flying colors.

And that should be enough momentum to have an easier field day against Adamson this time around.

The duel will feature top MVP contenders Shaina Nitura of Adamson and Angel Canino, who sit at second and third, respectively, in the MVP race behind UST’s Angge Poyos.

But Canino will not be alone, joining forces with Shevana Laput – the early MVP contender who however slid to sixth in the derby after missing two games in the first round due to illness.

Nitura will also have the fourth-running Frances Mordi by her side, looming to be a slugfest once again between teams that boast a bevy of national team players.

“It’s time for us to step up and rise to the occasion and do what we know we can do. We know that we can be a championship-level team. We have to earn it and work for it,” said Laput, La Salle’ team captain.

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