MANILA, Philippines — Redemption for La Salle in women’s territory, dynasty for National U in men’s kingdom.
Sharing a special night, the Lady Spikers rose back as queens with a vengeance while the Bulldogs reigned as three-peat kings in the UAAP Season 85 volleyball tournament in front of more than 20,000 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Like magic, the Lady Spikers clawed back from two sets down to unseat the Lady Bulldogs in epic fashion, 19-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-10, with the Bulldogs taking care of their own business against the Santo Tomas Tigers, 25-20, 25-21, 25-20, to complete a 16-0 sweep and a three-peat.
Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Angel Canino punched 19 points on 12 hits, six aces and a block as twin towers Thea Gagate (17) and Shevana Laput (12) defended the net at all costs in the Lady Spikers’ successful redemption after a bridesmaid finish last season.
Gagate, the First Best Middle Blocker, and Laput posted five blocks each, majority in the deciding fifth set where La Salle cut the Bulldogs down to size with consecutive swats, to cap a thrilling come-from-behind win for the second straight match.
Fifi Sharma added 11, Jolina Dela Cruz chipped in six as Finals MVP and Best Setter Mars Alba dropped a 16-set, six-dig outing to anchor La Salle’s first title in five years and 12th overall.
“Grateful po kami kay Lord dahil kung ‘di dahil sa kanya, wala kami dito ngayon. Pinagtulungan lang talaga namin lalo na sa five years na stay ko dito kasama si Jolina, ngayon lang kami nag-champion,” said Alba, who shed tears with fellow senior Dela Cruz on the floor as the La Salle crowd cheered in euphoria.
At championship point, La Salle players on the bench were already in tears, locked in joyful embrace, en route to perhaps the greatest comeback in the finals of UAAP volleyball.
“Sobrang saya kasi, ito after five years, nakabalik na kami sa napakahirap pero napakasarap na paraan. Sabi lang namin sa team, ‘wag mapapagod, magsasawa at susuko dahil makukuha rin namin ulit ito,” added assistant Noel Orcullo in lieu of head coach Ramil de Jesus.
The two rivals traded heymakers in the first four sets but when it mattered most, the Lady Spikers turned to defense as Gagate, with three straight blocks, slammed the door on NU’s every attack.
La Salle survived the 34 points of Alyssa Solomon.