By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers pulled off a hard-fought 25-21, 26-24, 25-20 straight-set win over the Adamson University Lady Falcons in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Saturday night, February 22.
Negrense Angel Canino provided 15 points, while Alleiah and Shevana Laput contributed 16 and 10 markers, respectively, as the Lady Spikers notched their first victory in two matches this season.
Holding to a 21-20 lead in the first set, Canino drilled a cross-court attack followed by an error from Lady Falcons’ Shaina Nitura gave them a 23-20 lead.
Nitura cut Adamson’s deficit to 21-23, but another error from her followed by an attack by Malaluan gave DLSU the set win.
In the second set, the Lady Falcons held to a 24-23 lead on consecutive hits from Nitura and Frances Mordi, but Canino unloaded back-to-back hits for a 25-24 Lady Spikers’ lead before Nitura committed another attack error.
The Lady Spikers then surged to a 9-3 start in the third frame courtesy of connections from Malaluan and Canino before they thwarted the attempted uprising by the Lady Falcons.
“Sa tingin ko, ang kulang namin is kumpyansa,” Lady Spikers head coach Ramil de Jesus said after the game.
“Dahil sa first game namin, nagkulang [kami] sa paniniwala sa sarili and sa team. At the same time, siguro dahil bago rin ‘yung setter,” he said.
“Doon sa mga pinagdaanan namin nung game na ‘yun, may mga natutunan ‘yung mga bata kagaya nung kailangan nila ma-overcome ‘yung pressure,” he added.
Nitura, who scored a UAAP rookie record of 33 points against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles last week, was held to 16 points, while Mordi added 12 markers.
They dropped to a 1-1 card.
Meanwhile, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses overcame a tough challenge from the University of the East Lady Warriors for a 28-26, 22-25, 25-23, 25-15 victory.
Regina Jurado top-scored for the Golden Tigresses with 22 points, Angeline Poyos added 21 markers on 14 attacks, four blocks, and three service aces, while rookie Margaret Altea contributed 10 markers for the Golden Tigresses, now with a 1-1 mark./ASC, WDJ