AT A GLANCE
The Lady Spikers needed an extra set to exact revenge against their lone elimination round tormentor Golden Tigresses and, in turn, book their 20th finals appearance.
De La Salle downed University of Santo Tomas, 26-24, 25-22, 20-25, 25-19, to advance to the finals of the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament on Wednesday, May 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Spikers needed an extra set to exact revenge against their lone elimination round tormentor Golden Tigresses and, in turn, book their 20th finals appearance.
Angel Canino pumped in a team-high 19 points on 18 attacks and a service ace, while Jolina dela Cruz chipped in 10 points.
Justine Jazareno took care of La Salle’s floor defense after tallying 22 excellent digs and 16 receptions.
The De La Salle Lady Spikers book their 20th finals appearance after a four-set win against the UST Golden Tigresses. (UAAP Media)
La Salle crawled back from its early 3-0 deficit in the opening set and kept itself beside UST in the scoreboard after the 12th deadlock of the game.
Dela Cruz and Laput then scored back-to-back points to put the Lady Spikers at set point, 24-22, but Eya Laure rushed back in action with two successive crosscourt attacks to tie the set once more at 24-all.
Canino untangled La Salle from the deadlock after going for an off-the-block kill before a triple block was put up to deny Laure at the net.
The second set was no different as both teams continued to exchange attacks, with the Lady Spikers pulling away late, 24-20, after a Canino point.
UST managed to inch closer within two, but Milena Alessandrini’s service error ultimately ended the set, giving La Salle a two sets to none lead.
La Salle couldn’t ride the momentum of the previous sets as its 6-3 advantage turned into a 16-8 deficit following UST’s huge 13-2 run.
After staring at the biggest deficit of the match at nine, the Lady Spikers slowly picked up their pace and got within two, 22-20, but the Golden Tigresses went on a conclusive 3-0 run capped by Hernandez’s solo block on dela Cruz to avert a sweep.
The Lady Spikers got over their third-set stumble and doubled on the Golden Tigresses midway through the set, 14-7, after Malaluan hammered down a crosscourt attack.
Laure then scored three straight points all on her own to put UST within three, 14-11.
Before the Golden Tigresses could stage a complete comeback, the Lady Spikers went on a telling 6-0 run for a comfortable 14-22 advantage.
From then on, La Salle never looked back as Thea Gagate’s solo block on Alessandrini put UST away for good.
Laure and Hernandez paced the Lady Tigresses with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
