Unbeaten La Salle books direct ticket to UAAP finals, triggers stepladder Final Four

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle proved to be in a class of its own, sweeping the eliminations en route to the finals for the 22nd time in UAAP women’s volleyball history.

The Lady Spikers completed a perfect 14-0 run and secured an outright ticket to the Season 88 finale after a 27-25, 15-25, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13 escape against rivals NU Lady Bulldogs on Sunday, April 19, at the Mall of Asia Arena, triggering a stepladder format in the Final Four.

La Salle became the first team to win all of its elimination-round assignments since NU, then led by first-ever women’s rookie MVP Bella Belen, won the Season 84 championship without dropping a match.

“We are not going to let go of our goals,” La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo said in Filipino after the game. “The way we started is also the way we would finish.”

“We just showed our hearts and the players showed their hearts… Maybe, this is destiny for us.”

La Salle won seven games in straight sets and survived three five-set duels, including the grind-out win against the Lady Bulldogs, who led on multiple occasions late in the final set.

However, the game ended in somewhat controversial fashion as the Lady Spikers’ block touch challenge was ruled a net fault on NU’s Arah Panique, giving match point to La Salle.

“Ugly win, but a win is a win,” Orcullo said. “It’s all about the breaks of the game.”

Shane Reterta led La Salle with 21 points, 15 digs, and 18 receptions, while Angel Canino had 15 points, all off attacks.

Shevana Laput put up 16 points and Amie Provido added 15 for the Lady Spikers.

It marked the first time La Salle swept the eliminations since Season 76 in 2014, although the Lady Spikers settled for a runner-up finish that year to the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

With the loss, the Lady Bulldogs, who now stand at 9-4, will have to win their final elimination match against the UST Golden Tigresses on Wednesday to secure the No. 2 seed.

A win by UST would trigger a playoff for the No. 2 spot between NU and the Adamson Lady Falcons, while the Golden Tigresses would secure the No. 4 spot over the FEU Tamaraws.

The No. 2 seed would earn a bye in the stepladder Final Four, needing only a single win to face the Lady Spikers in the best-of-three finals. – Rappler.com