DLSU one win away from UAAP S88 women’s volleyball sweep

Games on Saturday
(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)
9 a.m. – Ateneo vs UE (Men)
11 a.m. – Ateneo vs UE (Women)
3 p.m. – AdU vs FEU (Men)
5 p.m. – AdU vs FEU (Women)

ONE win away from a ticket straight to the championship stage.

De La Salle University (DLSU), as expected, clobbered the winless University of the East (UE), 25-20, 25-18, 25-15, to move on the verge of a sweep and an outright finals ticket in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Save for a close first set, the DLSU Lady Spikers dominated the UE Lady Warriors in only 78 minutes of play for their 13th straight win as a testament to their serious revenge tour after a bridesmaid finish last season to back-to-back champion National University (NU).

A win by La Salle against NU on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena as its final roadblock will trigger a rare stepladder format with the Lady Spikers already waiting on top for a best-of-three titular showdown against the survivor. La Salle beat NU in the first round, 25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17.

A loss would make it a traditional semifinals with La Salle being assured of the top seeding and a twice-to-beat edge.

But first things first for La Salle, which took care of business against the lowly UE as a warm-up.

“That’s what the coaches are instilling in us, one game at a time. We don’t worry about this streak that we have and the 13-0 record,” said team captain Shevana Laput, who fired 12 points in limited play as La Salle fielded its bench players to rev up for NU and the playoffs.

“We worry about how we perform and being disciplined in staying true to the system the coaches have taught us.”

MVP contender Angel Canino also provided 12 points paired by 10 excellent digs and seven excellent receptions while Lilay Del Castillo and Amie Provido chipped in nine and eight points, respectively.

Mikee Santos led the substitutes with five points along with solid play from Ella De Guzman and Mikole Reyes while ace Shane Reterta scattered five points, seven excellent digs and seven excellent receptions.

Khy Cepeda (13) and skipper Van Bangayan (10) led the way as the Lady Warriors absorbed their 27 straight losses including 13 this season prior to a duel for a graceful exit against fellow struggling Ateneo (1-11) on Saturday at the same venue.

In the men’s division, UE (3-10) played spoiled and dragged La Salle (5-8) to the exit door with a 25-21, 28-26, 26-24 victory behind Raquim Aceron’s 19 points. UE’s win assured Ateneo de Manila University (7-5) the last Final Four ticket. — John Bryan Ulanday