BY MICHAEL JUGADO and ABBY TORALBA
DOWN but not out, La Salle rose from the dead against erstwhile champion National University and reached the Promised Land anew after five years last night.
UAAP PHOTO
Showing up with the biggest of hearts, the Lady Spikers turned back the Lady Bulldogs 19-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-10 in Game 2 of their best-of-3 finals duel for the 85th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament before a wild and roaring crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
An Alleiah Malaluan hit shoved La Salle to championship point 14-9 before NU opposite hitter Alyssa Solomon scored on a spike that made it 14-10.
But middle hitter Thea Gagate’s block ended the Lady Bulldogs’ bid of winning it all for the second straight year and more importantly lifted the Lady Spikers to their first crown since 2018 and 12th overall.
La Salle held off NU 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13 in the Big Dance’s opening match last Sunday and completed a 2-0 series sweep.
Before 20,514 fans, Angel Canino, named season MVP and Rookie of the Year before the tiff, uncorked 19 points off 12 attacks and six service aces for the Lady Spikers, while Gagate tallied 12 blocks and finished with 17 markers.
Fifi Sharma also had 11 points for the Taft-based belles who avenged their stinging finals loss to the Lady Bulldogs last season.
Skipper Mars Alba issued 16 excellent sets to bag the finals MVP plum. Alba, along with Jolina Dela Cruz, sang their swan song for La Salle last night.
In men’s play, reigning two-time champion National University turned back University of Santo Tomas 25-20, 25-21, 25-20 to annex its third straight diadem.
Michaelo Buddin, named Second Best Outside Hitter, unleashed 20 points along with 10 excellent sets for the Bulldogs, while skipper Joshua Retamar, hailed as finals MVP and the Best Setter, had 17 excellent sets with two points and three digs.
Nico Almendras also added 14 markers as NU also proved untouchable in the season with a 16-0 record.
Rookie MVP Josh Ybañez paced the Golden Spikers with 13 points, while Gboy de Vega contributed 10 points.
Solomon carried the fight for the Lady Bulldogs with 34 points, while Mhicaela Belen got 11.
