De La Salle University banked on its vaunted net defense and powerful attacks to crush Adamson University, 25-19, 25-22, 25-17, and complete a come-from-behind title conquest in Game 3 of the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals finals yesterday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Championship experience played a key role in the Lady Spikers’ amazing comeback from the jaws of defeat after going down 0-1 to take their first-ever league title.
But in sudden death, La Salle’s towering wall at the net complemented its scorching offense to remind the humbled Lady Falcons why the Lady Spikers reigned supreme in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85.
Middle blocker Thea Gagate scored the biggest kill block of the ball game in the second set as she put the exclamation point to La Salle’s second set escape, setting the tone for the dominating win.
The Lady Spikers started off hot in the third frame to secure significant separation that zapped the fight of the Lady Falcons.
Sophomore Shevana Laput finished with 13 points to pace La Salle on her way to winning the tournament Most Valuable Player.
Gagate added 10 markers while Alleiah Malaluan, who hammered the championship point, and Amie Pro also chipped in 10 each for the Lady Spikers, who less than 24 hours before the decider rediscovered their dangerous form to sweep their rivals in Game 2.
“I’m out of words to express what I feel right now. We came here missing some of our players. What we wanted was to gain exposure and now we got a bonus of winning the championship,” La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo of the squad’s successful campaign despite missing key players including UAAP Rookie of the Year and MVP Angel Canino.
Adamson, which stunned La Salle in a thrilling series opener to draw first blood last Wednesday, gave La Salle a scare in the second frame as it patiently chipped away an 11-point deficit, 7-18, to breath down its opponent’s neck, 22-23, after Malaluan committed an error.
Provido responded with a booming quick attack before Gagate sealed the 2-0 match lead for La Salle with a solid block off an Ayesha Juegos spike.
Lucille Almonte led the Lady Falcons with 11 points while Juegos and Lorene Toring had eight each.
Meanwhile, rookie Angeline Poyos’ effort to help University of Santo Tomas bag the bronze medal was rewarded with the 1st Best Outside Hitter award while teammate Detdet Pepito was named Best Libero.
Malaluan got the 2nd Best Outside Hitter recognition, Gagate took the 1st Best Middle Blocker award and Provido pocketed the 2nd Best Middle Blocker title.
Lady Falcons playmaker Angelica Alcantara rounds up the list of individual award winners as Best Setter.
