Canino, DLSU clash with Nitura and AdU in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball

Games on Wednesday
(SM Mall of Asia Arena)
9 a.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Men)
11 a.m. – UST vs UP (Men)
1 p.m. – DLSU vs AdU (Women)
3 p.m. – UST vs UP (Women)

ALAS PILIPINAS stars Angel Canino and Shaina Nitura clash as unbeaten De La Salle University (DLSU) tries to zero in on a first-round sweep against Adamson University (AdU) in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Still immaculate after five matches, the DLSU Lady Spikers want no let-up at 1 p.m. against the fourth-running AdU Lady Falcons (3-2) to prime up for a heavyweight rematch against the National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs (5-1) to end the round.

University of the Philippines (UP) (3-2) and University of Santo Tomas (2-3) collide at 3 p.m., aiming to stay in the thick of the final four race approaching the crucial second phase.

But all eyes are on La Salle, which has been dead serious in its redemption tour by wiping out its first five opponents so far with only a single set loss.

The Lady Spikers did it despite the two-game absence of top spiker Shevana Laput, who marked a comeback in a 25-15, 25-20, 25-19 win against the listless University of the East last week.

Ms. Canino, the league’s second best attacker only behind Ms. Laput, has taken the Lady Spikers under her wings since then and the same should be expected even against her national teammate Ms. Nitura and company led by rising star Frances Mordi.

Mses. Nitura and Mordi combined for 42 points in Adamson’s upset of Santo Tomas, 27-25, 25-22, 25-12, to gain a share of fourth seed with Far Eastern University.

Expect the Lady Falcons to be ready for the Lady Spikers’ onslaught.

“I think we’ll focus on our side, which is back to training, and focus on what we can do to slow them down,” said Ms. Nitura.

In the men’s division, Santo Tomas (4-1) battles UP (2-3) at 11 a.m. in a bid to forge a joint second place with five-peat champion NU after the match between struggling teams La Salle (1-4) and Adamson (1-4) at 9 a.m. — John Bryan Ulanday