DE LA SALLE University (DLSU) is not going anywhere.
Dethroned and all, there is no way to go but up — and back — for the Lady Spikers as they vow a strong comeback in the next UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
“It serves as a motivation for all of us,” said reigning MVP Angel Canino as De La Salle saw their title retention bid come to an abrupt end over the weekend.
Staring at an unusual twice-to-win disadvantage as the third-seeded squad, De La Salle faltered in a 25-20, 16-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-7 defeat to bow out of contention early in the UAAP Season 86 Final Four.
University of Santo Tomas (UST), which won all of its three outings against DLSU this season, made the most of its win-once bonus with a fifth-set runaway to end a five-year finals drought and deny the latter its third straight finals appearance in the process.
The Golden Tigresses’ finals entry against either No. 1 National University (NU) or No. 4 Far Eastern University (FEU), which will clash in a rubber match on Wednesday after the Lady Tamaraws’ big win in Game 1, will also star the first finals without La Salle or Ateneo de Manila University in 16 years. The UAAP finals had featured either the Lady Spikers and the Blue Eagles, who finished fifth this season, in every finale since Season 70 (2008) when FEU beat Adamson University.
De La Salle deputy mentor Noel Orcullo said the Lady Spikers poured all they’ve got to keep that streak and live to fight another day but to no avail against the in-form and hungry Golden Tigresses.
Last season, De La Salle dropped only a single match in 16 matches, including a sweep of NU in the finals to regain the throne but this time around had three losses in the elims alone, nursing the departure of almost half of its starting six and the late absence of Ms. Canino due to a wounded right arm for a shaky campaign and ultimately, an early exit.
But like their redemption in Season 85 after a runner-up finish to the Lady Bulldogs in Season 84, expect the Lady Spikers to be back with a vengeance. — John Bryan Ulanday
