Lady Spikers overpower Lady Tams

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning champion La Salle zoomed to a second straight win in as many games with a 25-20, 25-17, 25-22 romp over Far Eastern U in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Sophomore star spiker Angel Canino, the Rookie-MVP winner last season, delivered 13 points on 11 hits, a block and an ace as the Lady Spikers scored another straight-sets victory.

Shevana Laput added 10 points while Thea Gagate and Alleiah Malaluan had eight and seven points, respectively, as new libero Lyka Mae de Leon (16 digs, 12 receptions) and setter Julia Coronel (13 sets) also helped in La Salle’s win churned out in 88 minutes.

La Salle took care of Adamson in 74 minutes last weekend, 25-16, 25-16, 25-18, in a rousing start to its title defense and also going down as Ramil de Jesus’ 300th career triumph in almost three decades as La Salle’s head coach. He added another one this time at the expense of his alma mater FEU.

But the Lady Spikers, at 2-0, are far from being satisfied.

“Actually, nakukulangan pa ako,” said Canino, looking forward to La Salle’s heavyweight battle against contender Santo Tomas this Sunday.

“Lahat naman po kami sa team, nakukulangan pa sa laro namin, which means kailangan pa po namin magdoble kayod talaga sa training kasi marami pa po kaming lapses. Marami po kaming errors na pwedeng maiwasan inside the court.”

Marilla Alberto led the fight for the Lady Tamaraws with seven points as no player finished in double digits for the FEU side which could not follow up its 25-23, 25-21, 25-18 debut win, under new head coach Manolo Refugia, against the UP Fighting Maroons.

In the men’s play, Santo Tomas and FEU also went up to 2-0 after beating the University of the East, 28-26, 25-19, 26-24, and La Salle, 25-18, 20-25, 25-22, 25-17, respectively.