Outside spiker Manilla Santos delivered the most lethal blows with 13 points on the attack as she powered the pretty Lady Archers to the rousing victory, their third following an opening game loss to the Tigresses.
"Sabi ko nga sa players ko kailangang ipakita namin kung bakit kami ang champion sa UAAP, kailangang patunayan talaga namin," said La Salle coach Ramil de Jesus, who steered his team to two UAAP volleyball crowns in his eight seasons with the school.
The Taft-based netters thus seized solo second place with a 3-1 (win-loss) slate, just behind the Tigresses‚ who remained unbeaten after four games.
SSC top setter Elena Mayo came back from a bout with measles but her presence proved not enough to lift his team’s spirit and prevent the Lady Stags from absorbing a second straight setback after sweeping their first two games in the event sponsored by Shakey’s and organized by Sports Vision Management Group, Inc.
Santos, a 19-year-old third year business management student, was a dominating force at the net as she unleashed a barrage of kills, including a pair of crucial ones late in the first set to turn a 21-22 deficit into a big victory.
The La Salle netters then pounced on an erratic San Sebastian side in the next frame and coasted to an easy win, only to find themselves faced with a tougher set of rivals in the third set.
San Sebastian, which won 15 of the last 18 NCAA titles, rallied from a 9-14 deficit to wrest a 18-17 lead, thanks mostly to the jump-serving Jeanne Espolong and the power-hitting duo of Jinni Mondejar and Angela Descalsota.
But it turned out to be San Sebastian’s last show of force as Santos smashed through the frontal defense of Mondejar and 5’-11" Charisma Libunao with a pair of crisp kills to cap the La Salle’s domination.
And Santos’ awesome effort came at a time when La Salle’s top hitter Desiree Hernandez, the 2003 UAAP MVP, played far from her top form.
"She stepped up for us in this game, she really played big," said De Jesus of Santos.
"Sakto pa naman dahil magkakasakit ‘yung top player ko," he added referring to Hernandez, who struggled all game after complaining of an impending bout with flu.