Lady Spikers find gem in Canino

MANILA, Philippines — Super rookie Angel Canino dazzled in her debut as La Salle pulled off a 25-20, 16-25, 25-8, 15-25, 16-14 squeaker over Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Canino, a former UAAP juniors MVP for La Salle-Zobel, impressed with 18 points on 16 attacks, an ace and a block plus 11 receptions, living up to expectations as the next big thing in the collegiate volleyball scene.

Veteran Jolina dela Cruz backstopped the prized neophyte with a triple-double of 14 points, 10 digs and 10 receptions while Leila Cruz fired 12 laced by five blocks in La Salle’s gritty win pulled off in two hours and nine minutes.

Twin towers Fifi Sharma and Thea Gagate had six points apiece with skipper Mars Alba (14 sets) and Justine Jazareno (20 digs) setting the table for the Lady Spikers under the watch of interim coach Noel Orcullo.

La Salle joined reigning champion National U, Adamson and Far Eastern U as early leaders with identical 1-0 cards.

“Breaks of the game na lang talaga ‘yung nangyari. Sobrang intense ng laban so talagang kahit sino doon (pwede manalo). Sinuwerte lang kami na sa amin pumanig ‘yung breaks,” said Orcullo, who also called the shots in La Salle’s silver-medal finish in the Shakey’s Super League.

La Salle, one of the heavy contenders this season after a bridesmaid finish to NU last year, played as good as advertised by taking a 2-1 lead highlighted by a 25-8 decimation of the Golden Tigresses in the third frame.

As expected though, Santo Tomas hit back hard in the fourth frame, limiting La Salle to just 15 markers that set the stage for the epic five-set thriller.

Earlier, Far Eastern U handed coach Tina Salak a winning debut with a 25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 26-24 decision over University of the Philippines. FEU also trounced UP, 25-22, 25-23, 25-15, in men’s play.