By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers ruled the 39th Kadayawan Invitational Volleyball Tournament after a 25-12, 25-16, 25-17 victory over the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Lady Knights at the USEP Gym in Davao City on Sunday night, August 4.

Negrense Angel Canino emerged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Attacker, while Amie Provido and Shevana Laput were named Best Middle Blocker and Best Server, respectively.

The Lady Spikers were on fire in the opening quarter as they jumped to a 24-9 lead.

The Lady Knights responded with three straight points before DLSU closed the set with a conversion from Provido.

The Lady Knights kept the match close in the second set as they were just down 13-17 before the Lady Spikers went on a huge finishing run, highlighted by back-to-back attacks from Laput, to close the set.

The Lady Spikers opened the third set with a 14-5 lead, but the Lady Knights made their last push to cut the deficit to 15-20 before DLSU finished off the championship match with conversions from Canino and Provido.

Lady Knights’ Judiel Nitura and Lara Silva were named as Best Opposite Attacker and Best Libero, respectively, while Lyceum of the Philippines Lady Pirates’ Venize Puzon was named Best Setter.

Meanwhile, the Lady Pirates clinched the bronze medal following a 26-24, 25-22 and 25-14 straight-set victory over the Davao Eagles.

The 2024 Kadayawan Invitational Volleyball Tournament was a four-day event that was part of the annual Kadayawan Festival in Davao City./ASC, WDJ