BY ABBY TORALBA
REELING from a numbing loss at the hands of rival National University, defending champion La Salle seeks to rebound when it collides with also-ran Adamson University today in the 86th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Spikers, who missed reigning MVP Angel Canino for the third straight game against the Lady Bulldogs, are raring to return to the win column and forge a three-way logjam atop the standings together with NU and University of Santo Tomas at 10-2.
Shevana Laput and Thea Gagate continued to be La Salle’s main offensive weapon with Canino not around, posting 21 and 12 points, respectively, against National U.
The Lady Falcons will be opposite them in the 2 p.m. match, whose morale is through the roof after breaking a six-game slump last Saturday against University of the Philippines.
Barbie Jamili, who did not see action in Adamson’s straight-sets first-round loss to De La Salle on opening day, looked to have found her footing as she uncorked 16 points against the Fighting Maroons along with 14 receptions and 11 digs.
Finals Four-bound Far Eastern University squares off with the slumping University of the East in the main game at 4 o’clock.
The Lady Tamaraws, who clinched a semifinal spot with a huge upset of UST last Saturday, aim to build from that momentum to finish the elimination round strong heading into the postseason.
“Malaking morale sa amin ito na makamit ang ganitong panalo. May remaining games pa kami na kailangang paghandaan so focus pa rin doon,” said FEU coach Manolo Refugia.
The Lady Warriors are out to end a three-game spell and end FEU’s hopes of a twice-to-beat incentive.
