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  • Ramil De Jesus sees big boost in La Salle seniors’ return ahead of UAAP Season 89 

    Ramil De Jesus sees big boost in La Salle seniors’ return ahead of UAAP Season 89 

    After rewriting the record books in UAAP Season 88, De La Salle University head coach Ramil De Jesus believes the biggest boost heading into the next chapter came not from a new recruit, but from his veteran players choosing to stay.


    The decorated Lady Spikers mentor expressed his appreciation after Shevana Laput, Angel Canino, Amie Provido, and Lyka De Leon decided to return for UAAP Season 89, giving La Salle the continuity and leadership it needs as it tries to defend its throne.

     

    The decision carries extra weight after the Lady Spikers produced one of the most dominant campaigns in league history last season. La Salle went unbeaten through all 16 assignments, eventually completing its championship run by sweeping defending champions National University in the Finals.

     

    For De Jesus, seeing his seniors prioritize the team over turning professional immediately was a meaningful reward.

     

    “Ayun ‘yung pinakaswerteng natanggap ko na regalo ng mga seniors ko, na nag-stay sila for the team, and hindi kaagad nagmadaling mag-pro,” Ramil said.

     

    However, the veteran coach understands that repeating a perfect season will be a much bigger challenge. With La Salle now carrying the target on its back, De Jesus knows every opponent will enter games against the Lady Spikers with extra motivation.

     

    “‘Yung bawat games naman dumadaan eh, so kung ano ‘yung kahinatnan ng games, kung kulang ‘yung preparation mo, eh maghabol ka. Pero kung nandoon ka sa itaas, edi ikaw ‘yung habulin. Ganon kasimple,” he said.

     

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    Despite the pressure that comes with success, De Jesus remains committed to the sport and the program that he has built over the years.

     

    “Sa akin kasi, siguro, ‘yung passion kasi hindi nawawala ‘yun eh. Hanggang siguro binibigyan ako ng pagkakataon, ng chance, at mayroong naniniwala sa akin so tuloy tuloy lang siguro ‘yun.”

     

    Aside from their impact on La Salle, the returning seniors are also earning recognition on the national stage. De Jesus welcomed the inclusion of Canino and Provido in the Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball training pool that will prepare for the 20th Asian Games in Japan this coming September. Finals MVP Laput is also part of the group.

     

    The veteran mentor believes their selection reflects the quality and potential they have shown.

    “Deserving sila, nakita nila ‘yong potentials ng mga bata, nakita nila talagang makakatulong (sa team),” veteran coach said.

     

    Canino and Provido were among the country’s top hitters named to the Philippine Olympic Committee-released training pool. They join national team standouts including captain Jia De Guzman, Belen, Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma, Shai Nitura, Alyssa Solomon, Vanie Gandler, and Erika Santos under new head coach Taka Minowa.

     

    For De Jesus, the challenge is clear, maintain the hunger that produced perfection while preparing for a league determined to stop La Salle’s reign.

     

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  • Angel Canino welcomes Alas Pilipinas return, fresh off being named CPC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year

    Angel Canino welcomes Alas Pilipinas return, fresh off being named CPC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year

    Angel Canino barely had time to celebrate one of the greatest collegiate seasons in recent memory before another opportunity arrived.

     

    Fresh off leading De La Salle University to a flawless UAAP championship campaign and being recognized as the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year, the Lady Spikers star is once again preparing to wear the Philippine colors after earning another invitation to Alas Pilipinas.

     

    For Canino, the recognition is rewarding, but the focus has already shifted toward the bigger mission waiting later this year—the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

     

    Speaking after receiving her Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Player of the Year award at Discovery Suites, the reigning collegiate star said every call-up to the national team remains something she never takes for granted.

     

    “Of course, I’m very grateful. I feel incredibly blessed that when the lineup was announced, I was included. But of course, we’re still in the process of preparing,” said Canino in Filipino.

     

    “So hopefully, everything leading up to the Asian Games will fall into place. I hope everything aligns well, and I also hope we can all continue to support one another even more.”

     

    The latest invitation marks another chapter in Canino’s growing international résumé after suiting up for Alas Pilipinas during last December’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, where the Filipinas finished fourth.

     

    Her return to the national team comes after a collegiate campaign that elevated her status as one of Philippine volleyball’s brightest stars.

     

    Canino was among the driving forces behind La Salle’s perfect 16-0 championship run in UAAP Season 88, helping the Lady Spikers reclaim the title despite the early-season absence of Finals MVP Shevana Laput. 

     

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    She also delivered when the stakes were highest.

     

    In the championship opener against National University, Canino powered La Salle with 17 points, nine digs, and five excellent receptions before following it up with another all-around performance of 11 points, 10 digs, and 10 receptions in Game 2 as the Lady Spikers completed a straight-set sweep of the defending champions.

     

    Those performances earned her the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year recognition.

     

    Joining Canino among this year’s volleyball awardees are National University’s Leo Ordiales as the UAAP Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year, Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Lara Silva as the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year, and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s Reymark Betco as the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year.

     

    The four standouts will be honored during the 2026 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night presented by Strong Group Athletics.

     

    While another individual award now sits beside her growing collection, Canino’s attention is already on the next challenge.

     

    This time, the goal extends beyond collegiate glory as she hopes to help Alas Pilipinas compete against Asia’s best on one of the continent’s biggest sporting stages.

     

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  • Ramil de Jesus banners four volleyball Coaches of the Year honorees

    Ramil de Jesus banners four volleyball Coaches of the Year honorees

    Four mentors who guided their teams to the top of collegiate volleyball will take center stage as they receive recognition at the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night presented by Strong Group Athletics on June 29 at Discovery Suites Manila in Ortigas, Pasig.

     

    The honorees represent the champions of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

     

    Bannering the group is De La Salle University’s Ramil de Jesus, who added another chapter to his legendary career by bringing the Lady Spikers to their 13th women’s volleyball championship.

     

    De Jesus will be named UAAP Women’s Volleyball Coach of the Year after La Salle produced a historic campaign in UAAP Season 88. The Lady Spikers completed a perfect 16-0 season and finished the year by defeating two-time defending champion National University in the finals.

     

    The achievement, highlighted by the historic “Sweep 16,” also gave La Salle a chance to rewrite an old chapter. After falling short in Season 76, the Lady Spikers finally brought the crown back to Taft Avenue in dominant fashion.

     

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    Another championship story came from Letran’s Mayeth Carolino, whose return to the school nearly three decades after her playing days resulted in a title-winning run.

     

    Carolino, who previously helped the Lady Knights win championships as a player in 1997 and 1998, once again found herself celebrating with Letran — this time as head coach.

     

    She guided the Lady Knights past defending champion College of Saint Benilde to capture the NCAA Season 101 women’s volleyball title, adding another achievement to a career that already included Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors during her playing days.

     

    In the men’s division, National University continued its unmatched run under Dante Alinsunurin. The veteran mentor will be recognized as the UAAP Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to their sixth straight championship. NU defeated Far Eastern University in the Season 88 finals, securing the program’s eighth title in what has become an era of dominance.

     

    The Bulldogs also extended their incredible streak of reaching 11 consecutive UAAP Finals appearances, further establishing themselves as the benchmark in men’s collegiate volleyball.

     

    For College of Saint Benilde’s Arnold Laniog, the championship carried a different meaning — ending years of waiting.

     

    A longtime part of the Blazers’ volleyball program as both player and coach, Laniog guided the Blazing Spikers to the NCAA Season 101 men’s volleyball crown, closing the door on a nine-year championship drought.

     

    His breakthrough title earnedco him the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Coach of the Year award, recognizing his role in bringing Benilde back to the top.

     

    From La Salle’s unbeaten run to NU’s continued dynasty, Letran’s comeback story, and Benilde’s long-awaited return to glory, the four coaches represent the different paths that lead to a championship.

     

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  • From the UAAP to the PBA, the Laput siblings stay connected as each other’s biggest fans

    From the UAAP to the PBA, the Laput siblings stay connected as each other’s biggest fans

    In a season where victories and defeats crossed different courts, the Laput siblings found their own winning moment far beyond the scoreboard. For James Laput, every update from the UAAP carried more weight than any stat line in the PBA.


    Watching his younger sister Shevana Laput lead the De La Salle University Lady Spikers to a flawless UAAP Season 88 campaign and a second collegiate title, James saw not just a champion but the realization of years of expectation, pressure, and persistence finally turning into gold.

     

    For the Magnolia Hotshots big man, the achievement went beyond La Salle’s storied legacy. It became personal validation of Shevana’s journey as an athlete who carried both talent and responsibility on her shoulders.

     

    “All I can say is that she lived up to expectations, and I think she should be called the ‘doe’ because she’s the definition of elite,” he said.

     

    James knows what it means to fall short of a dream season. His own run with La Salle in Season 82 ended in disappointment after a concussion disrupted what was supposed to be a defining campaign. 

     

    That unfinished chapter has followed him into his professional career with the Magnolia Hotshots, where a championship still remains out of reach.

     

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    But while his own journey continues to search for a breakthrough, Shevana’s rise has become a source of perspective rather than pressure.

     

    “She’s proven it time and time and time and time again. She’s just well-deserving of this title and this (Finals MVP) award. It’s just a bonus for her, but it’s huge for the entire Lasallian community,” he said.

     

    Carrying the responsibility of leadership this season, Shevana entered UAAP Season 88 under heavier expectations, but delivered a campaign that defined composure under pressure.

     

    Even in the middle of Magnolia’s own PBA quarterfinal battle against the Meralco Bolts at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, family support remained constant. Despite James and Magnolia falling short in their playoff clash, Shevana was present courtside—turning the tables on roles, this time cheering for her brother from the stands.

     

    James may still be chasing his defining championship moment in the PBA, but in watching Shevana lift hers twice over with La Salle, he has already experienced a different kind of victory—one measured not in trophies, but in pride that runs in the family.

     

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  • Angel Canino reveals overseas offers nearly pulled her away from La Salle before Season 88 title run 

    Angel Canino reveals overseas offers nearly pulled her away from La Salle before Season 88 title run 

    For a while, Angel Canino genuinely thought her La Salle story might already be over.

     

    Long before De La Salle University completed its historic unbeaten championship run in UAAP Season 88, the Lady Spikers superstar found herself torn between loyalty and opportunity — between staying in Taft and chasing professional volleyball overseas.

     

    The offers were real. The temptation was, too.

     

    “Honestly speaking po talaga, there were offers po internationally,” revealed Canino during La Salle’s sit-down interview with Rico Hizon on ANC. “Kaya napa-dalawang isip po ako last year.”

     

    Coming off a heartbreaking Finals loss to National University in Season 87, Canino found herself at a crossroads familiar to many modern collegiate stars. The volleyball landscape had changed rapidly, with overseas clubs and professional teams now aggressively pursuing top UAAP talent even before they exhaust eligibility.

     

    Former NU standouts Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen had already chosen that route, leaving college early to begin their professional journeys in Japan and the PVL.

     

    Canino could have easily done the same.

     

    Instead, she stayed — and in doing so, became the emotional anchor of one of the most dominant campaigns in UAAP history.

     

    What ultimately pulled her back to Taft wasn’t just unfinished business on the court. It was something far more personal.

     

    “When I went back after the Southeast Asian Games [last December], naramdaman ko po talaga na I really love La Salle. I also asked my Ates, and binigay nila yung advice nila sa akin. I was thinking about it, may offer sa labas, pero I made a promise that I will stay for five years,” shared Canino.

     

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    That promise, made years ago to legendary coach Ramil de Jesus, eventually outweighed everything else.

     

    And by staying, Canino didn’t just help La Salle reclaim the throne — she became part of a season that may define this generation of Lady Spikers forever.

     

    The green-and-white side stormed through Season 88 with a perfect 16-0 record, capped by a dominant Finals sweep of defending champion National University. More importantly, the run restored the aura of invincibility that has long surrounded the program.

     

    For Canino, though, the championship only deepened her attachment to the school she nearly left behind.

     

    “Mahal na mahal ko po yung La Salle, and mas lalo pa po akong napamahal dahil dito sa Season 88 na sisterhood namin,” she said. “And napa-stay din ako dahil sa Lasallian community.”

     

    Now, instead of exiting early, Canino is preparing for one final season with the Lady Spikers in Season 89 alongside the same core that brought La Salle back to the top.

     

    And perhaps that is what makes her decision resonate even more.

     

    At a time when many athletes are understandably tempted to leave early for bigger opportunities, Canino chose one more year of college — one more year of representing the school and teammates she says she learned to love even more after Season 88.

     

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  • Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido step away from Alas as national team reset deepens

    Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido step away from Alas as national team reset deepens

    What was once expected to be the continuation of Alas Pilipinas’ core is now beginning to look more like the start of an entirely new chapter.

     

    Just days after committing to return to De La Salle University for one final UAAP campaign, Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, and Amie Provido have officially stepped away from consideration for the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup, further thinning an already depleted national team pool ahead of the June tournament in Candon City.

     

    The announcement came through Canino’s Instagram story on Thursday, where the reigning UAAP champion explained that recovery—not reluctance—ultimately drove the trio’s decision.

     

    “To be invited to the National Team training pool is a privilege I never take for granted, and playing for the Philippine flag is the highest honor,” Canino wrote.

     

    “However, coming off the high intensity of UAAP Season 88, Amie, Shevana, and I have decided to prioritize our physical recovery. We first need to let our bodies heal and reset so that we can give our best to the game.”

     

    The withdrawal of the three La Salle standouts adds another major layer to the uncertainty surrounding Alas Pilipinas, which has seen key names steadily become unavailable over the past several days.

     

    With Canino, Laput, and Provido now out, the national team effectively loses the remaining core connected to the Philippines’ campaign in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games. Former Alas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito is also no longer part of the setup, leaving the program heading into the AVC Women’s Cup with an increasingly unfamiliar look.

     

    The timing could hardly be more difficult.

     

    The Philippines is already navigating a turbulent buildup to the June 6 to 14 tournament in Ilocos Sur after dealing with multiple player withdrawals, injuries, and coaching setbacks. Newly appointed head coach Tai Bundit is also sidelined following a car accident in Thailand, while several established national team names have either declined invitations or remain unavailable.

     

    Among those who have already begged off are Jia de Guzman, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Shaina Nitura, Mars Alba, and Justine Jazareno.

     

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    For the La Salle trio, though, the choice was less about stepping away from the flag and more about finally allowing themselves to pause after one of the most demanding collegiate seasons in recent memory.

     

    Canino, Laput, and Provido played central roles in La Salle’s dominant championship march, helping the Lady Spikers complete just the third 16-0 sweep in UAAP women’s volleyball history. The emotional and physical toll of that run, paired with their decision to return for Season 89, ultimately pushed recovery to the forefront.

     

    Even then, the trio emphasized that their absence from the AVC Women’s Cup should not be mistaken for a lack of support for the national team program.

     

    “We’ve communicated this to the PNVF and while we won’t be on the court this time, our hearts are with the team as they compete in the AVC Women’s Cup 2026,” Canino wrote.

     

    As the tournament draws closer, Alas Pilipinas now faces the challenge of rebuilding its roster almost from scratch — a reality that could force the program to lean heavily on younger collegiate players and untested combinations in hopes of forming a competitive squad on short notice.

     

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  • Angel Canino and La Salle championship core to run it back for Season 89 

    Angel Canino and La Salle championship core to run it back for Season 89 

    Just days after completing one of the most dominant championship runs in recent UAAP history, De La Salle University made it clear that its reign may only be getting started.

     

    The Lady Spikers’ championship core led by Angel Canino has officially decided to return for one final season, keeping intact the same group that steamrolled through UAAP Season 88 without losing a single match.

     

    During a courtesy call with La Salle president Bro. Bernie Oca, FSC at Henry Sy Sr. Hall on Tuesday, team captain Shevana Laput confirmed that “Batch 122” would stay together for Season 89.

     

    “As for we wish to continue this legacy, we want to stay for one more year,” said Laput during the gathering attended by campus journalists.

     

    Joining Laput in the announcement were fellow cornerstone players Canino, Amie Provido, and Lyka De Leon — effectively preserving the heart of the squad that reclaimed the UAAP women’s volleyball crown.

     

    Their return instantly transforms La Salle into the early favorite to repeat next season.

     

    More importantly, it gives “Batch 122” one last opportunity to further strengthen what is already shaping up to be one of the defining eras in Lady Spikers history.

     

    The group first captured a championship as rookies in Season 85 before completing a redemption-driven return to the top this year, sweeping the eliminations and dismantling defending champion National University in back-to-back straight-set victories in the Finals.

     

     

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    For many observers, signs of the players’ return were already quietly unfolding during La Salle’s traditional “Archer’s Stance” celebration after winning the championship at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

     

    Normally reserved for departing seniors, the symbolic center spot remained empty — a subtle hint that no farewell was coming just yet.

     

    Even then, the players stayed careful about publicly confirming their plans.

     

    Three days later, the mystery was officially gone.

     

    The returning core also brings back nearly every major individual award won by La Salle this season.

     

    Laput, who famously entered collegiate volleyball without prior competitive experience, capped her remarkable rise by winning Finals MVP honors after averaging 15.5 points in the title series, highlighted by a 20-point performance in the clincher.

     

    Canino continued her dominance on the wing by earning her third Best Outside Spiker award, while Provido secured a second straight Best Middle Blocker recognition.

     

    Laput likewise captured her second consecutive Best Opposite Spiker plum, while De Leon previously established herself as one of the league’s top floor defenders after winning Best Libero honors in Season 87.

     

    Now fully intact and armed with another year of chemistry, experience, and championship confidence, La Salle’s title-winning machine is preparing for one more run — and perhaps an even bigger legacy.

     

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  • NU Lady Bulldogs set stage for familiar Finals clash with DLSU Lady Spikers

    NU Lady Bulldogs set stage for familiar Finals clash with DLSU Lady Spikers

    Big teams find their identity in pressure moments—and National University proved once again why it thrives in them.


    With their title defense hanging in the balance, the NU Lady Bulldogs absorbed an early blow before flipping the script on the UST Golden Tigresses, carving out a hard-earned 19-25, 26-24, 26-24, 25-21 victory in the UAAP Season 88 stepladder semifinals at the Araneta Coliseum.

     

    The win does more than extend NU’s campaign—it revives a rivalry that has come to define this era of women’s volleyball. 

     

    For the fourth time in the last five years, the Lady Bulldogs will face the unbeaten DLSU Lady Spikers in the Finals.

     

    After dropping the opening set, the Lady Bulldogs found themselves repeatedly pushed to the edge by a determined UST side. Yet every time the Golden Tigresses threatened to pull away, NU responded with resolve.

     

    Arah Panique emerged as the spark in the most critical stretches. With NU trailing 16-19 in the second set, she teamed up with Vange Alinsug to engineer a 10-5 turnaround that not only stole the frame, 26-24, but shifted the match’s momentum.

     

    The third set followed a familiar script. Down 20-22, NU once again leaned on Panique, who powered a 6-2 closing run to secure another razor-thin 26-24 escape and put the defending champions ahead.

     

    UST refused to fold, surging to an 18-14 lead in the fourth set in a last push to extend the match. But just when the Tigresses sensed a decider, Alinsug ignited NU’s final charge—scoring five key points in an 11-3 blitz that slammed the door shut on UST’s season.

     

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    Behind the scoring runs was the steady orchestration of playmaker Lams Lamina, who dictated NU’s offense with 34 excellent sets while adding three points of her own. Her composure under pressure earned her Player of the Game honors.

     

    “Very happy kasi lahat kami pinagtrabahuan talaga ‘yung win na ito. Crucial game siya, do-or-die, kaya sobrang happy ako sa performance ng team,” Lamina said.

     

    Panique finished with 23 points, while Alinsug contributed 18 points along with 16 receptions and seven digs in a complete all-around effort. Alexa Mata added 10 points, highlighted by five attacks, four blocks, and an ace—each contribution part of a collective stand that defined NU’s comeback.

     

    For UST, the loss marked the end of a gritty campaign. Regina Jurado led the Tigresses with 19 points and 12 digs, while Angge Poyos filled the stat sheet with 16 points, 13 receptions, and 10 digs.

     

    In what may have been her final collegiate appearance, team captain and libero Detdet Pepito anchored UST’s defense with 23 digs and eight receptions, embodying the fight that kept the Tigresses competitive until the end.

     

    With the semifinals behind them, NU now turns its focus to a bigger stage—and a familiar foe. Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals against La Salle is set for May 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

     

    The Lady Bulldogs will carry with them not just momentum, but a reminder of who they are when pushed to the brink—a team that doesn’t just survive pressure, but transforms it into opportunity.

     

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  • La Salle completes 14-0 sweep, punches finals ticket in controversial classic

    La Salle completes 14-0 sweep, punches finals ticket in controversial classic

    History doesn’t always arrive clean. For the De La Salle Lady Spikers, their return to perfection came wrapped in drama, resilience, and just a touch of controversy—fitting for a team that has made a habit of living at the edge of big moments.

     

    In front of a roaring 19,419 crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena, La Salle completed a flawless 14-0 elimination round sweep in UAAP Season 88, outlasting defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs in a gripping five-set battle, 27-25, 15-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13.

     

    But this wasn’t a straight path to history—it was a climb.

     

    For long stretches, National University dictated the pace, even pushing La Salle to the brink late in the fourth set. Down 20-23, the Lady Spikers needed not just execution, but belief. They found both, clawing their way back to force a deciding fifth set.

     

    “Ginusto ng mga bata manalo. Ever since (sa Set 4), lamang ang NU e, pero pinusuan ng mga bata,” said assistant coach Noel Orcullo.

     

    “Ugly win, but a win is a win.”

     

    The final point, however, ensured this match would be remembered beyond the record books.

     

    With La Salle ahead 14-13 in the fifth, an initial four-touch violation was called against them. Head coach Ramil de Jesus challenged for a block touch—unsuccessful at first glance. But a closer review revealed contact on the net by a NU player’s forearm.

     

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    What followed was a rare referee’s discretionary challenge, ultimately reversing the call and handing La Salle the match—and the sweep.

     

    Messy or not, the result stood. And so did La Salle’s dominance.

     

    The victory secured an outright Finals berth, marking their 14th appearance in the last 16 seasons and putting them on track for a 13th title. More importantly, it grants them a crucial advantage: rest and preparation, while the rest of the field battles through a stepladder semifinal.

     

    Leading the charge was Shane Reterta, who delivered 21 points along with 18 receptions and 15 digs in an all-around masterclass. Angel Canino added a triple-double of 15 points, 16 receptions, and 12 digs, while Shevana Laput and Amie Provido combined for 31 points—most of them coming when the match hung in the balance.

     

    On the other side, NU proved why it remains a contender. Vange Alinsug led the Lady Bulldogs with 22 points, backed by Arah Panique and Chammy Maaya, while rookie Sam Cantada and libero Shaira Jardio anchored the defensive stand.

     

    Yet in the end, it was La Salle that found a way. Not perfect in execution—but perfect where it mattered most.

     

    And now, while the rest of the league fights for survival, the Lady Spikers wait—one step closer to turning a flawless run into another championship chapter.

     

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  • La Salle one win away from season sweep and outright finals berth after straight-sets rout of UE 

    La Salle one win away from season sweep and outright finals berth after straight-sets rout of UE 

    The De La Salle Lady Spikers continued their methodical march through UAAP Season 88, dismantling the UE Lady Warriors in straight sets, 25-20, 25-18, 25-15, on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

     

    It wasn’t just another win. It was another step toward something far more significant.

     

    At 13-0, La Salle now stands on the brink of completing an elimination-round sweep—a feat the program hasn’t achieved since Season 76. More importantly, finishing the job would mean an outright ticket to the Finals and a stepladder advantage, bypassing the chaos of the semifinals altogether.

     

    But inside the team, the message remains grounded. “Siguro, hindi naman mawawala yung pressure pagdating sa amin. Siyempre, nandoon yung pressure na kailangang manalo, pero lagi namang pinapaalala ni coach na score at number lang ’yan,” said assistant coach Gian de Jesus.

     

    “Kailangan mag-focus pa rin sa kung ano yung nasa harapan mo, which is yung NU ngayon, at one game at a time lang. Sana, hopefully, maganda pa rin yung mapakita namin na game against NU.”

    That next step is anything but simple. Waiting for them is the defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs—a familiar rival and the final hurdle between La Salle and a perfect elimination round. Their upcoming showdown carries more than just playoff implications; it’s a preview of what could be a championship collision.

     

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    Against UE, however, La Salle showed why it has remained untouched this season. The match turned decisively in the third set. Locked at 4-all, the Lady Spikers flipped the switch, unleashing a scoring run that turned the frame into a runaway. Shane Reterta ignited the surge with three straight attacks, setting the tone for a finish that never wavered.

     

    From there, execution took over. Angel Canino led the balanced attack with 12 points while anchoring the floor defense with 10 excellent digs and seven receptions. At the net, Lilay del Castillo and Amie Provido controlled the middle, combining for blocks and quick hits that kept UE from finding rhythm.

     

    Even the second unit delivered. Bench players like Mikee Santos, Ella de Guzman, and Mikole Reyes made the most of their minutes, reflecting the depth that has become one of La Salle’s biggest strengths.

     

    For UE, the story continues to be a search for answers. The loss dropped the Lady Warriors to 0-13, extending a losing streak that now spans 27 matches. Despite the numbers, there were still efforts worth noting, with Khy Cepada leading the way and support coming from Bangayan and Angge Reyes.

     

    But the gap remains clear. As La Salle sharpens itself for a defining clash, UE is left trying to salvage something from a difficult campaign, with another opportunity looming against Ateneo.

     

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