By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers kicked off their Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship campaign with a 25-14, 18-25, 26-24, 25-12 victory over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, September 28.

Negrense Angel Canino made her presence felt with 16 points, with 14 coming from attacks, as the Lady Spikers marked their return in the pre-season tournament with a dominant win.

Shevana Laput scored seven of her 18 points in the fourth frame, including the game-sealing crosscourt kill, while Amie Provido and Katrina del Castillo contributed 10 and eight, respectively.

“For the team, it was really just sticking to our system, listening to what the coaches were telling us, but most importantly playing with pride and puso,” Laput said during her Player of the Game interview.

After winning the opening set convincingly, the Lady Spikers struggled against the Fighting Maroons in the second set before they were pushed to the limit in the third frame before pulling off a 26-24 win.

The Lady Spikers then used a huge 14-2 rampage in the fourth set behind the tandem of Laput and Canino to open an 11-point lead at 16-5 to take the fight away from the Fighting Maroons.

Rookie Kianne Olango scored 12 points, with half of them coming in the Fighting Maroons’ second set assault, Kassandra Doering finished with seven markers, while Irah Jaboneta and Nina Ytang chipped in six each for UP./ASC, WDJ