De La Salle Lady Spikers star Angel Canino against the University of the East Lady Warriors. Photo from UAAP Media.

MANILA (UPDATED) — Reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Angel Canino continued her stellar play to lead De La Salle University as they cruised past the University of the East.

The Lady Spikers posted a 25-21, 25-18, 25-10 victory against the Lady Warriors in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The league's Season 85 ROTY-MVP posted 17 points, nine digs, and seven receptions to lead the Taft spikers in their fourth victory in five games, days after their three-setter against rivals Ateneo de Manila University.

Julia Coronel put up 15 of La Salle's 18 excellent sets while also tallying five digs and three points, while Thea Gagate had nine markers that came from five blocks, three attacks, and an ace.

"Actually, medyo nakulangan kami kasi nga yung first two sets, hindi naging maganda yung galaw. Mostly yung iniiscore ng kalaban, puro errors eh. Sabi nga ni coach [Ramil De Jesus], bigyan niyo dapat ng respeto," said DLSU assistant coach Noel Orcullo following the game.

[We were not happy because we were not playing well in the first two sets. They were scoring off our errors. Like coach Ramil de Jesus said, we should respect them.]

The Lady Archers committed 21 errors in the contest in comparison to UE's 14, but Orcullo said that there was an effort to lessen these, especially in the third.

"So, parang nawala yung respeto nung first two sets kaya nung nag-huddle nung pa-third set, kinausap lang ni coach na yun nga bigyan ng respeto so ayun yung naging magandang resulta, na naminimize pa yung error."

[There was a lack of respect in the first two sets. We huddled before the third set and Coach Ramil reminded them to respect their opponents. We had a good result and we were able to minimize our errors.]

On the other hand, what worked for DLSU was their advantage on attack points, 45-25, and their blocking 10-6. Their floor defense was also crucial for them as La Salle tallied nine more than UE,  24-5.

Meanwhile, Casiey Dongallo finished with her career-low in points of 15 markers that came from 12 attacks and three blocks, as well as eight digs and two receptions.

Orcullo explained that this could be a result of the rookie playing outside of her usual position.

"Yun nga, medyo binago yung pwesto ni Casiey kanina," he explained. "Nung first two sets ginawa siyang middle. Talagang medyo male-lessen yung puntos niya kasi mostly diba pag middle, kailangan perfect receive para mabigyan ka eh kanina medyo hindi sila make receive nang maayos eh." 

[They switched Casiey's position; they played her as the middle blocker in the first two sets. That contributed to her production because if you're a middle blocker, you need a perfect receive to get a set. Earlier, they were not able to receive very well.]

"So talagang hirap magbigay yung setter kanina. Then nung third set, binalik siya sa outside, pero it's too late siguro. Kaya na-domina pa namin yung third set kaya talagang bababa yung point production niya," he added, while also admitting how they took an extra effort to prepare in facing Dongallo. 

[So their setter had some difficulties earlier. In the third set, they put her back as the outside hitter, but it might have been too late. So we were able to dominate the third set and limit her point production.]

"Sa scouting naman namin, talagang siya yung binantayan namin dahil mostly nung the past few games niya, parang 70% ng bola ng UE nasakanya. So talagang siya yung babantayan mo."

[We really scouted her well. In their first few games, 70% of UE's sets were to her, so we needed to defend her.]

Moving forward, the deputy mentor said that they are to focus on the Fighting Maroons who are their next assignments.

"We have to focus more sa UP muna, then after UP dun kami fofocus sa susunod na game. One game at a time muna kami, dahan dahan. Hindi kami naka-focus agad sa malelate sa UP, UP lang muna ang focus namin."

[We have to focus on UP first, then after UP that's when we'll focus on our next game. One game at a time is our mentality. We are focused on UP.]

La Salle will be facing the University of the Philippines on Sunday at 4 PM, while the 1-4 Lady Warriors will try to return to the win column on the same day when they go up against Bella Belen and National University at 2 PM. 

Both games are to be held at the same Pasay arena.

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