Lady Spikers shoot for sweep, redemption

Games Saturday 

(Mall of Asia Arena)

11 a.m. -- Men's Awarding Ceremony

12 p.m. -- NU vs FEU (Men's Finals)

4 p.m. -- Women's Awarding Ceremony

5 p.m. -- NU vs DLSU (Women’s Finals)

MANILA, Philippines -- A perfect season to slay the ghost of its past, end a rival’s dynasty and redeem its lost glory is here for La Salle’s taking. 

And with momentum on their side, the Lady Spikers go for vindication and redemption against the back-to-back titleholders National University Lady Bulldogs in the potential Game 2 finisher of the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball finals. 

“Nakauna na tayo so pangatawanan na natin,” said coach Ramil de Jesus as La Salle shoots for the jugular at 5 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena before an expected mammoth crowd once again. 

More than 15,000 fans witnessed La Salle’s 25-23, 25-18, 25-18 statement win in Game 1 for its 15th straight win in as many games, rolling the red carpet now with an anticipated bigger crowd for a fitting coronation. 

A win by Lady Spikers would give them their second title in the last four seasons and 13th overall in 21 finals appearances — all under De Jesus as the winningest collegiate volleyball team this era. La Salle also eyes a second season sweep in school history after doing it in 2004 (14-0) with an old format declaring the unbeaten team in the elims as champions.

The spikers from Taft could also put an end to the Lady Bulldogs’ impending dynasty with five finals appearances in a row and three championships in that span, including the last two. 

But there’s more it than those feats, a far bigger goal for De Jesus that’s already 12 years in the making.

“Ayoko nang maulit ‘yun,” he vowed, recalling La Salle’s infamous meltdown in 2014. “Na-sweep namin ‘yung elimination and then ‘yung Ateneo, talagang gumapang hanggang dulo.”

Then a three-peat queen, La Salle’s dynasty seemed untouchable and impenetrable with a 14-0 sweep in Season 76, only to squander a thrice-to-beat edge in the finals against the Blue Eagles. 

Led by team captain Shevana Laput and former Rookie-MVP Angel Canino, the Lady Spikers find themselves in a familiar territory now with no plans of getting struck by thunder twice. 

“‘Yung NU lalaban talaga 'yan. Alam namin na lalaban talaga sila at alam namin na pag-aaralan din nila kami. Talagang kung sino lang may gustong manalo sa Game 2," added Canino, who fired 17 points in Game 1. 

And the Lady Bulldogs as the last team to complete a “Sweet 16” sweep in 2022 will, out to prove that they’re still the back-to-back UAAP queens for a reason despite a rebuilding stage after the graduation of their championship core led by three-time MVP Bella Belen. 

“Everything sa championship is more mental than physical na. Everything is pantay-pantay na sa skills, mental na lang. We just have to focus on that again and go back to the drawing board and do our best for the next game," said NU coach Regine Diego, up against her former mentor Ramil de Jesus. 

"I told them to hold their heads high because it’s not the end. Trabaho lang kami para makalaban kami hanggang sa dulo. Confident pa rin kami for the next game.”

Meanwhile, if NU’s reign is in peril in the women’s division, the Bulldogs are on the cusp of extending their dynasty to a six-peat against the top-ranked Far Eastern U Tamaraws at 11 a.m. in the men’s division finals.

The Bulldogs eked out a 25-21, 19-25, 21-25, 25-20, 15-8 win in Game 1  behind Alas Pilipinas stalwarts Leo Ordiales, Jade Disquitado and Buds Buddin.

The awarding ceremony is set in between games, with Adamson’s Shaina Nitura (women’s) and University of Santo Tomas’ Josh Ybañez leading the way as Season MVPs.