Laput, La Salle out of prove champion status as UAAP Final Four nears

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'We are a championship team,' says Shevana Laput after La Salle pulled off a come-from-behind five-set win over Adamson that kept the Lady Spikers in the mix for a twice-to-beat bonus

MANILA, Philippines – As the Final Four of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament nears, the La Salle Lady Spikers are on a mission to reclaim the throne.

Shevana Laput said La Salle is out to prove that it is a “championship team” as the Lady Spikers advanced to the semifinals for the 15th straight time and stayed in the mix for a twice-to-beat bonus following a five-set win over the Adamson Lady Falcons on Wednesday, April 23.

Hiking its record to 9-4, La Salle tied the UST Golden Tigresses for second place, just behind defending champion NU Lady Bulldogs (11-2), with one game left in the elimination round.

“[L]a Salle is not this second or third team, we are a championship team and we will show everyone that’s what we are,” said Laput.

Coming off a stunning five-set loss to the UP Fighting Maroons, the Lady Spikers were on the verge of another upset as they dropped two of the first three sets against the Lady Falcons, who were led by 35 points of Shaina Nitura.

Nitura already had 29 points through the third set, but La Salle displayed its vaunted defense, limiting the super rookie to just 6 points combined in the fourth and fifth sets to set up a tense race for the last win-once advantage.

A win over the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Saturday, April 26, at the Araneta Coliseum, and a Tigresses loss to the Lady Bulldogs will give the Lady Spikers the second seed and the playoff incentive.

Securing the twice-to-beat reward will be crucial for La Salle, considering it settled for the third seed last season then saw its title-repeat bid dashed after being booted out by UST in the Final Four.

“We just have to fight for this. We need to prepare ourselves mentally because I think that’s where our team, not lacks, but needs to improve on more, and our team chemistry and showing that on the court, because we have that,” Laput said.

“It’s just about applying it on the court and showing everyone what La Salle is.” – Rappler.com