De La Salle University’s conquest of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s volleyball title is a promise fulfilled for graduating seniors Mars Alba and Jolina de la Cruz.
The duo left it all on the court in their farewell game to will the Lady Spikers back from two-sets down to a dramatic, 19-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-10, win over dethroned National University in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals last Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Slapped with a painful Final Four exit to start their collegiate careers in 2019, forced to a two-year layoff due to the Covid-19 pandemic and denied of the crown by the Lady Bulldogs last season, leading the Lady Spikers to end a five-year title drought is both a surreal and bittersweet feeling for the veterans.
“It’s very fulfilling for us because since our rookie year, we never experienced being champions,” De la Cruz said.
“So, we really worked hard and every year hoped to get that opportunity (to win the championship).
For La Salle team captain Alba, who was named Finals Most Valuable Player, reclaiming the throne in her final year is a dream come true.
“I’m very happy and it’s very fulfilling. During our first year we settled for third place. Then in our second year the pandemic struck, and we just finished second last season in our third year,” Alba said.
“I promised myself that I won’t graduate without La Salle winning the championship,” the season’s Best Setter winner said.
“Jols and I have that goal. We told ourselves that maybe after our third and second place finishes, we will finally become champions in our last year.”
Alba, who was the first Lady Spiker to win the Best Setter award since Kim Fajardo in 2016-17, tallied 16 excellent sets and had two points while De la Cruz had six points in three sets of play.
“Just like what Mars said. It’s such a wonderful feeling to finally get this chance after a long wait,” De la Cruz said.
“And, we’re thankful to God that we were given this opportunity to win the championship.”
Both were also grateful to their teammates, especially their young guns led by season MVP and Rookie of the Year Angel Canino, Thea Gagate, Fifi Sharma and Shevana Laput, for helping them deliver La Salle’s 12th title overall.
“We all worked together to reach this goal,” Alba said.
Although the two seniors have already announced that they will be hanging their La Salle jerseys, they can still make one final dance if they decide to.
But for now, they would rather enjoy the fruits of their long and hard labor.
“We’ll just enjoy this championship, for now,” Alba said. “We’re still on cloud nine that I even asked myself if this is true.”
“Just the same, let us enjoy this first and we’ll see,” De la Cruz said.
