La Salle completes perfect 16-0 season to lift UAAP women’s volleyball crown

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle head coach Ramil de Jesus made it clear he wanted no repeat of UAAP Season 76 — a nightmarish campaign that saw the Lady Spikers sweep the elimination round and earn direct entry to the finals only to fall short of the crown.

This Lady Spikers crew did not disappoint him.

La Salle joined an elite club as it completed an unbeaten run in Season 88 and captured the women’s volleyball championship following an emphatic 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 win over the NU Lady Bulldogs at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, May 9.

Just like what they have done all season long, Angel Canino and Shevana Laput showed the way for the Lady Spikers, who became the third team to go 16-0 in a season after the Alyssa Valdez-powered Ateneo Lady Eagles in Season 77 in 2015 and the Bella Belen-led Lady Bulldogs in Season 84. 

Laput produced a game-high 20 points, including the title-clinching attack, while Canino delivered an all-around outing of 11 points, 10 excellent receptions, and 10 excellent digs as La Salle put on a masterful performance in the best-of-three series, crushing NU without dropping a set.

With the victory, the Lady Spikers prevented NU from becoming only the fourth school in UAAP history to win at least three straight women’s volleyball titles — a feat ironically last achieved by La Salle when it ruled from Season 78 in 2016 to Season 80 in 2018. 

Moreover, the Lady Spikers avenged their Season 87 finals loss to the Lady Bulldogs, who won three of the last four championships. 

La Salle captured its 13th women’s volleyball crown, third-most in UAAP history, all under De Jesus. – Rappler.com