UAAP Finals: Shevana Laput, La Salle fulfill redemption mission

Shevana Laput wins the Finals MVP honors after helping La Salle Lady Spikers clinch the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball championship, beating NU Lady Bulldogs. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Shevana Laput and the La Salle Lady Spikers entered UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament with a singular focus: reclaiming La Salle’s lost glory.

Laput and the Lady Spikers fulfilled that goal by completing a perfect 16-game sweep, capped by a 25-22, 25-16, 25-16 rout of defending champion National University Lady Bulldogs in Game 2 of the Finals on Saturday before 22,509 fans at Mall of Asia Arena.

READ: UAAP Finals: La Salle dethrones NU to complete perfect title run

“We were so focused on our goal. There is no other thing on our mind except today, except getting that championship. Getting that 13th championship for coach. Ever since the end of last season, we had that one goal and we worked hard, stayed disciplined to that,” Laput said.

The Filipino-Australian spiker delivered the championship-clinching kill to end La Salle’s three-year title drought and deliver coach Ramil De Jesus his 13th championship.

Shevana Laput and the La Salle Lady Spikers react after a point during the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball Finals vs NU Lady Bulldogs. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Laput was left in tears last year after La Salle got swept by the NU duo of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon in the Finals. This time, though, they were tears of joy.

The La Salle captain and her fellow seniors Angel Canino, Amie Provido, and Lyka De Leon entered the season believing they had what it took to win it all after learning from their previous heartbreaks.

“So for us, we were sure. For us, we knew that we could get this. We manifested it. But more than that, we worked hard for it. Every single day, we worked toward that,” Laput said.

Shevana Laput wins the Finals MVP. #UAAPSeason88 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ

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Laput, who was limited to 11 points in Game 1, bounced back with 20 points on 14 kills and six blocks to emerge as the Finals MVP of the Finals series.

Laput said her motivation was never about redeeming herself individually, but becoming the best leader she could be for her teammates.

“Not very much of a personal chip. More of, I wanna be the best version of myself for these girls. That’s my goal this entire season. To be the best version I can be,” said Laput. “To help and guide these girls and support them in the way I can. And I suppose this was how I could be the best version of myself for them. And I’m just grateful that they all trust in me and they all support me in them.”

Laput also claimed her second straight Best Opposite Spiker award after finishing with 188 ranking points.