Angel Canino and Angge Poyos engage in a thrilling showdown of topnotch hitters as De La Salle faces University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday, Feb. 25.
The Lady Spikers and the Golden Tigresses try to go two in a row in the quadruple header’s main event at 5 p.m.
Opening the women’s action at 1 p.m. are Adamson and University of the East with both teams parading elite young spikers in Shaina Nitura and Khy Cepada.
Canino, the Season 85 Rookie of the Year-MVP winner, is expected to steer the Taft-based squad anew after rallying the Lady Spikers in their previous match against the Soaring Falcons to clinch their first victory of the season.
It was a much-needed win for La Salle after it suffered a three-set beating from the reigning champions National University Lady Bulldogs.
“One game at a time lang kami, kung ano mang kailangan gawin in preparation against UST, ayon ‘yong mga kailangan gawin for them,” said Canino.
“Alam naming matapang din sila and they never give up every point,” she added.
La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus is leaning on the scoring production of Canino, Alleiah Malaluan and Shevana Laput against a UST side that is missing the services of reliable scorers Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula.
“‘Yong pagkawala ng dalawang Sabi ko nga malalim ‘yong bench ng UST, so marami siyang pwedeng paikutin (Kungfu Reyes),” De Jesus stressed. “And hopefully, mapaghandaan namin."
Still, UST has Poyos, Regina Jurado, Margaret Altea, and Athena Abbu with libero Detdet Pepito leading the squad.
Meanwhile in the men’s division, La Salle and UST collide at 9 a.m., while Adamson and UE, both winless, go all out at 11 a.m.
