BY ABBY TORALBA
NEWLY minted champion and Rookie-MVP Angel Canino of La Salle did not let her individual accolades get in her way to fulfill her mission of leading the Lady Spikers back to the Promised Land.
All throughout the season, the outside hitter displayed splendid performances while also helping La Salle complete its redemption drive.
Before the start of Game 2 of the best-of-3 finals in the 85th UAAP women’s volleyball tournament last Sunday, Canino received several awards during the individual awarding–the season MVP, top freshman, and the Second Best Outside Hitter plums.
She then led the scoring for La Salle as it dethroned National University 19-25, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17, 15-10 in a nail-biter.
“Actually, hindi ko naman po in-expect iyon kasi ayoko pong talagang isipin iyong mga awards na nakuha po namin or nakuha ko po kasi ang gusto ko lang– ang goal ko lang naman talaga is maka-contribute lang po sa team. Kung ano naman po iyong nakuha ko kagaya po ng sabi ni coach Ramil bonus lang iyon,” Canino said.
“Iyong totoong laban po talaga is iyong championship. Masaya naman po ako na nakuha ko po iyon pero para po iyon sa team, hindi po sa akin, at sa nasa taas, kay God,” she added.
Canino could not be any happier as the Lady Spikers ended a five-year title drought and bagged their 12th crown overall.
“Siyempre po, nakaka-proud lang din naman po sa team namin na finally nakuha na po namin iyong goal nammin, iyong ultimate goal namin is mag-champion,” she said.
La Salle skipper Mars Alba was named with the finals MVP while also winning the Best Setter award.
The Lady Spikers’ Thea Gagate took home the First Best Middle Blocker, while Jolina Dela Cruz was the league’s First Best Outside Hitter.
