MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino and Shevana Laput shaped a potent one-two punch as La Salle ended Nationwide College’s 28-game unbeaten run with an exhilarating 32-30, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21 victory within the second spherical of the 2024 Shakey’s Tremendous League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Sunday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Within the conflict of SSL champions, Canino and Laput rose to the event and spearheaded the Girl Spikers’ fourth-set surge that noticed them take a commanding 21-14 unfold.
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Nonetheless, the Girl Bulldogs, led by MVPs Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, by no means wavered and minimize it down to simply two, 22-20, earlier than Laput stopped the bleeding and introduced the Girl Spikers to match level, 24-21, with two essential kills.
READ: Function gamers lead La Salle’s newest win in Shakey’s Tremendous League
Rookie Shane Reterta delivered the game-winning ace, ending NU’s good run that started after sweeping the inaugural SSL in 2022 till its 4-0 end in Pool A.
Canino unleashed 20 factors constructed on 18 kills and a pair of aces, whereas Laput had 18 factors off 15 assaults, two blocks, and an ace for La Salle, which skipped final yr’s Pre-season championship and this season’s Nationwide Invitationals each dominated by NU.
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Rookie setter Mikole Reyes, the sister of former La Salle star and PLDT center blocker Mika, was a revelation for the Girl Spikers, pacing them with 16 wonderful units on high of two factors to fill within the large footwear left by primary setter Julyana Tolentino, who sat out within the match.
“Lagi kaming nireremind na kapit lang, tibay ng puso, and balik lagi sa sistema,” mentioned Reyes. “Sobrang saya and comfortable for this chance. Gusto ko rin i-grab yung alternative na ito and gusto ko talagang magcontribute sa group.”
Amie Provido had 9 factors, whereas Shane Reterta added seven factors within the first La Salle-NU conflict within the SSL since 2022.
La Salle, which dominated the 2023 Nationwide Invitationals, survived a grueling first set, saving NU’s six set-point benefits earlier than Canino and Belen commerce errors for a 30-all impasse. Canino introduced the Girl Spikers at set level with a again row hit adopted by Solomon’s assault error to attract the primary blood.
The Girl Spikers acquired dominated within the second set however acquired their act collectively within the third as Lilay introduced them at set level, 24-22, earlier than Cham Maaya dedicated a vital error, handing the 2-1 match benefit to La Salle.
NU began the second spherical off the flawed foot after a 4-0 end within the first spherical, whereas La Salle stayed unbeaten, boosting its likelihood for a twice-to-beat quarterfinal benefit in Pool E.
Solomon carried the Girl Bulldogs with 18 factors, whereas Belen and Vange Alinsug had 13 factors every, lacking the providers of Arah Panique.
New NU coach Sherwin Meneses misplaced his first NU-La Salle recreation to the Girl Spikers deputy Noel Orcullo, who’s filling within the large footwear of Ramil De Jesus this preseason.
READ: Poyos leads UST fightback vs UE for Shakey’s Tremendous League Pool B sweep
In the meantime, The College of Santo Tomas and College of the East opened their second-round campaigns with separate straight-set wins.
UST dominated Ateneo, 25-11, 25-20, 25-17, to kick off its Pool F marketing campaign on a excessive word as setter Cassie Carballo paced the group’s dominant win, which solely lasted for 85 minutes.
“Sobrang laking issue for us ‘yung relationship namin exterior the court docket. Nagsisimula ‘yun sa relationship namin exterior the court docket and nadadala namin ‘yun sa loob. Kanina, naglaro lang kami ng buo,” mentioned Carballo, who had 13 wonderful units and three factors after 11 different Tigresses contributed factors.
Angge Poyos poured in 17 factors, all coming from assaults together with the back-to-back hits to complete the sport. Jonna Perdido contributed 9 factors. Reg Jurado chipped in eight factors, whereas Marga Altea nailed three of her seven factors from kill blocks.
UST tries to spice up its probabilities for a quarterfinals twice-to-beat incentive in opposition to Far Jap College on Friday, whereas Ateneo seeks to bounce again in opposition to the College of the Philippines.
AC Miner led the Blue Eagles with eight factors, Yvana Sulit delivered six factors, whereas Lyann De Guzman and Sobe Buena had 5 every.
UE turned to the dynamic duo of Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero to beat School of Saint Benilde, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, in Pool E.
Dongallo and Gajero stored the final NCAA group within the SSL at bay as they placed on the ending touches of their tight third-set duel.
Dongallo led the Girl Warriors with a game-high 16 factors off 15 assaults and one kill block. Gajero scored seven factors, whereas Kai Cepada additionally had the identical manufacturing as the previous.
“Malapit na matapos ‘yung set and hindi ‘yun ‘yung time na mag-relax pa kami. Kung patapos na we’ve to place all our effort na kasi lahat naman gusto nang manalo,” mentioned Dongallo.
St. Benilde gave up 24 errors within the recreation. Clydel Catarig and Grace Borromeo had 12 and 9 factors, respectively.