De La Salle University star Angel Canino in their UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament clash against University of the Philippines. Photo from UAAP Media. MANILA — It is still early, but De La Salle University has already been through a roller coaster ride in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.

The Lady Spikers hold a 2-2 record after four games, with the Ramil de Jesus-coached team having won against Adamson University and University of the Philippines, and losing to National University and University of Santo Tomas.

“Tough loss talaga siya nung nangyari against UST,” said La Salle star Angel Canino after their gutsy win over the Fighting Maroons on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, talking about their five-set loss to the Golden Tigresses last Wednesday.

“Kinapitan namin ng sobra sobra at nilaban namin, pero kulang pa rin. Kaya kailangan namin magdobleng kayod din sa training, at kailangan din namin magkaroon pa more ng connections sa bawat isa and after naman ng pagkatalo naman na yon,” she added.

READ: La Salle frustrates UP behind Angel Canino’s heroics

Canino led the fightback of La Salle vs. UP in the third set when they were down 8-3, but for the one-time UAAP MVP, what will help the Lady Spikers sustain their winning ways is consistency.

“What’s different now? ‘Di lang talaga consistent yung ngayon kasi bago lang din lahat,” she pointed out. “Bago yung setter, madami kaming mga bata na kasama, so lahat talaga, kailangan talaga mag adjust.”

“Hindi lang yung mga bata, hindi lang kaming mga seniors, lahat po talaga,” added Canino.

And with these, Angel and her fellow veteran Shevana Laput are ready to take on the weight of guiding their squad as they continue to weather through the growing pains of the season.

“Being one of the ates on the court, Angel and I, there’s a standard that we need to bring because we know that the team trusts in us,” emphasized Laput. “We need to be able to be there for them so that they can rely on us, and that they are allowed to make those mistakes and grow as players.”

But for La Salle to be efficient with the progress, Canino is challenging her teammates to show a sense of urgency.

“Lagi lang naman namin nire-remind yung bawat isa kung anong kaya namin sa bawat game,” she said. “Kung anong lamang namin, kung anong reason na pinunta namin, kung anong reason kung bakit kami lumalaban. Yun yung nire-remind namin.”

“Hindi lang basta-basta game ‘to, kundi kailangan may pinag huhugutan tayo kung bakit tayo lumalaban. Yung hugot na yun is yung mga challenges na hinarap namin during this UAAP season and of course noong off-season po,” she added.

Canino will hope for these to translate when they face University of the East next week at the same Pasay Bayside arena.