Perfect season in sight

MANILA, Philippines —  La Salle rained down flaming arrows on back-to-back reigning champion National U in a rousing 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 victory last night at the Mall of Asia Arena that sent the Lady Spikers a win shy of a perfect campaign in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball.

In front of roaring crowd of 15,000, the Lady Spikers showed their great stuff, stretching their unbeaten run to 15 games – a win away from a “Sweep Sixteen” and return to glory.

Angel Canino and her teammates erased a 16-19 deficit in the homestretch of the first set to dictate the tempo, and just broke free in the next two in a dominant Game 1 win in the best-of-three titular showdown.

A perfect season in sight, the Lady Spikers go for it on Saturday at the same venue.

La Salle came so close to making the feat in 2014 but then emerging force in Ateneo led by phenom Alyssa Valdez pulled off an upset for the ages by overcoming a thrice-to-win disadvantage to deny the wards of coach Ramil de Jesus a four-peat.

Twelve years later, La Salle has a chance to slay the ghost of the setback and end National U’s dynasty.

Season 76 ay bangungot talaga sa amin, ‘nung panahon nila Aby (Maraño). So, ayoko nang maulit ‘yun,” said De Jesus, chasing a 13th title in his 21st finals appearance.

“Na-handle namin ‘yung pressure (at least for Game 1). Every year naman, talagang sinasabi ko sa kanila na magiging posible lang ito kung paghahandaan natin.

Ito na ‘yung pagkakataon na kaharap namin ulit ‘yung NU so kailangan pa ring paghandaan kasi hindi pa tapos. HIndi lahat nabibigyan ng ganitong opportunity so kailangang pangatawanan natin.”

Canino led the charge with 17 points on 15 hits as La Salle shrugged off rust from over two weeks of rest.