By Abby Toralba
PROVING its imposing Game 2 win was no fluke, La Salle hacked out a 25-19, 25-22, 25-17 victory over a gritty Adamson University side yesterday to bag the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals title at The Arena in San Juan.
The Taft-based crew won the best-of-three series 2-1, thanks largely to Shevana Laput who scored 13 points and the trio of Alleiah Malaluan, Thea Gagate and Amie Provido who combined for 30 points.
“Exposure ang hanap namin dito so bonus ito na nag-champion. Nakita naming dito kung ano pa and dapat i-adjust, ma kulang, pagdating ng UAAP tournament,” said La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo.
The Lady Falcons, also preparing for the coming UAAP wars, stunned the Lady Spikers in Game 1 last Wednesday, scoring a 22-25, 25-17, 17-25, 27-25, 16-14 decision.
But La Salle, the defending UAAP champion, bounced back with a convincing 25-23, 25-12, 25-18 win in Game 2 last Saturday, completing the job in just 79 minutes.
Last Saturday, University of Santo Tomas completed a two-game sweep of its battle for third against Perpetual Help, scoring a 25-20, 25-21, 17-25, 25-13. The Golden Tigresses also prevailed in Game 1 via a 25-15, 25-22, 25-15 win.
After winning the first two sets, the Lady Spikers kept their momentum going in the third, taking a 9-4 lead that was extended to 14-8 after a down the line kill from Laput.
From a 21-14 count, La Salle stepped on the gas to make it 23-15 and Malaluan delivered the last two points for the win.
Adamson team captain Lucille Almonte was the lone bright spot for the Lady Falcons with 11 points.
The 6-foot-2 Laput, a Fil-Australian, was named the Most Valuable Player after averaging 20.3 points in the title series. She also won the Best Opposite Hitter award.
Angeline Poyos of UST and La Salle’s Malaluan received the Best Outside Hitter plums while the duo of Gagate and Provido were named the Best Middle Blockers.
Adamson rookie setter Angelica Alcantara was named the Best Setter while UST skipper Bernadett Pepito bagged the Best Libero award.
