By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negrense Angel Canino overcame dizziness to propel the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers to a 15-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-21, 16-14 victory over the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, March 29.
Canino, who was accidentally hit in the neck after a collision with teammate Shevana Laput in the fourth set, finished with a season-high of 27 points, 13 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions for the Lady Spikers.
“Naapektuhan siya nung tama sa batok kaya, after nung game, kinuha na si Angel ng team doctors [to the dugout],” DLSU assistant coach Noel Orcullo said.
“Hopefully, hindi naman maging malala ‘yung tama sa batok niya,” he added.
Laput contributed 16 points, while Amie Provido and Alleiah Malaluan added 12 and 10 points, respectively, helping the Lady Spikers rise to second place with a 6-3 win-loss slate.
Even after a collision with Laput early in the fourth set that left her feeling dizzy, Canino managed to lead the Lady Spikers to a 25-21 victory, sending the match to a deciding set.
The fifth set was fiercely contested, with the score tied at 14-all before the Lady Spikers clinched the match via a drop ball from Laput and a crosscourt hit from Canino.
“Simula pa lang ng game, sinabihan na namin ‘yung mga players na gustuhin nilang panalo kasi labanan ng puso ito. Hindi pwede ‘yung papasok kami sa laro na ang umiiral ay takot,” Orcullo said.
“‘Yung kaba talagang nandyan ‘yan eh, pero dapat ma-overcome nila ‘yan habang naglalaro. Kaya nung nakuha namin ‘yung fourth set, sinabihan lang namin sila na gustuhing manalo, at ‘yun, naging maganda ang resulta,” he added.
Regina Jurado led the Golden Tigresses with 22 points, while Angeline Poyos was limited to 12 points as they suffered their third consecutive defeat to drop to a 5-4 win-loss card.
Meanwhile, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (4-5) made short work of the Adamson University Lady Falcons (3-6), 25-23, 25-14, 25-23.
AC Miner paced the Blue Eagles with 13 points./ASC, WDJ