BY ABBY TORALBA
DE La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas turned back their quarterfinals opponents yesterday and forged a much-anticipated semifinals showdown in the 2023 Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals at The Arena in San Juan.
The Lady Spikers barely broke a sweat against Jose Maria College Foundation, scoring a 25-18, 25-14, 25-19 win in just 67 minutes, while the Golden Tigresses ousted the Enderun College Lady Titans via a 25-13, 25-16, 21-25, 25-14 win.
Shevana Laput had 16 points as the Lady Spikers, the reigning UAAP champions, dominated the Lady Royals, coming up with 42 attacks, 18 service aces, five blocks.
The win, however, did not please assistant coach Noel Orcullo, who said: “Marami pa ring dapat ayusin. Hindi maganda iyong nilaro namin. Sobrang daming errors, lalo na sa service. Mag-dwell pa rin kami doon sa corrections at adjustments.
“Sa semis, hindi pwedeng ganito iyong laruin namin lalo at at UAAP team and kaharap, Iyon ang paalala. Kailangan, i-angat iyong level ng play nila pagdating ng semis. Ibang labanan na iyon,” he added.
La Salle and UST collide tomorrow, Friday, in the first Final Four pairing, three months after their semis battle in the UAAP Season 85 eventually won by the spikers from Taft.
Angeline Poyos led the Golden Tigresses with 18 markers while Regina Jurado and Athena Abbu contributed 10 and nine points, respectively.
“Anything can happen (in the semis) pero syempre ibibigay naming ang experience sa lahat. That’s why lahat ng players namin, nilalaro namin. Para makita namin iyong highest at lowest points nila sa mga ganoong sitwasyon. Hindi naman nila nakikita iyon sa training, dito naka-record lahat,” said UST mentor Kungfu Reyes.
Erika Deloria and Althea Botor paced Enderun with 16 and 14 markers, separately.
