Undefeated Lady Spikers heavily favored over Lady Warriors

La Salle Lady Spikers

(UAAP Media Bureau)

Games Saturday

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

9 a.m. – UE vs DLSU (men)

11 a.m. – ADU vs UST (men)

1 p.m. – UE vs DLSU (women)

3 p.m. – ADU vs UST (women)

MANILA, Philippines — La Salle is poised to stretch its unbeaten run to five games when it clashes against the lowly University of the East entering the tail end of the pace-setting round in the UAAP Season 88 women's volleyball Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Action sizzles at 1 p.m. with the Lady Spikers (4-0) expected to make short work of the Lady Warriors (0-5) in the thick of 19 straight losses since last season before a key duel between University Santo Tomas (2-2) and Adamson (2-2) at 3 p.m. for a goal of cracking the Top 4.

A win by La Salle would give it enough cushion ahead of the bumper-to-bumper race featuring rival National University (4-1), University of the Philippines (3-1) and Far Eastern University (3-2), leading up to final assignments for the round against the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Falcons next week.

And the least thing La Salle wants entering a tough stretch is a stumble, at the expense of the winless UE at that.

"Hindi namin pwedeng biruin ang kalaban," said coach Noel Orcullo in spite of La Salle's torrid start to snatch the driver's seat from NU by being No. 1 in blocking and setting departments.

Angel Canino will be tasked to lead Lady Spikers' bid against complacency, especially with the uncertainty of ace spiker Shevana Laput for the third straight match due to illness.

Canino led La Salle in scoring without Laput, including 21 points in La Salle's 25-14, 21-25, 25-15, 25-17 win against Ateneo last weekend. The Lady Spikers in that match absorbed their first set loss after going 9-0 in three games but scored their 17th straight win against the Blue Eagles since 2017.

"Hindi ko siya iniisip na iti-take ko lahat ng responsibility kasi madami kaming senior eh, and madami ring mga bata na willing to step up so magaan din para sa akin. Alam ko talaga when it comes to playing, hindi lang ako dapat ang maasahan. Lahat kami naasahan sa loob, kaya walang dagdag na pressure. Lahat naman pinaghihirapan namin," said Canino.

Standing in their way are Van Bangayan and Khy Cepada, who have been providing steady numbers but to no avail as UE remains in hunt for an elusive win.