La Salle Lady Spikers celebrate during a victory over NU Lady Bulldogs in the Shakey’s Super League.–SSL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino and Shevana Laput formed a potent one-two punch as La Salle ended National University’s 28-game unbeaten run with a thrilling 32-30, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21 victory in the second round of the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship on Sunday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

In the clash of SSL champions, Canino and Laput rose to the occasion and spearheaded the Lady Spikers’ fourth-set surge that saw them take a commanding 21-14 spread.

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However, the Lady Bulldogs, led by MVPs Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, never wavered and cut it down to just two, 22-20, before Laput stopped the bleeding and brought the Lady Spikers to match point, 24-21, with two crucial kills.

READ: Role players lead La Salle’s latest win in Shakey’s Super League

Rookie Shane Reterta delivered the game-winning ace, ending NU’s perfect run that began after sweeping the inaugural SSL in 2022 until its 4-0 finish in Pool A.

Canino unleashed 20 points built on 18 kills and a pair of aces, while Laput had 18 points off 15 attacks, two blocks, and an ace for La Salle, which skipped last year’s Pre-season championship and this season’s National Invitationals both ruled by NU.

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Rookie setter Mikole Reyes, the sister of former La Salle star and PLDT middle blocker Mika, was a revelation for the Lady Spikers, pacing them with 16 excellent sets on top of two points to fill in the big shoes left by main setter Julyana Tolentino, who sat out in the match.

“Lagi kaming nireremind na kapit lang, tibay ng puso, and balik lagi sa sistema,” said Reyes. “Sobrang saya and happy for this opportunity. Gusto ko rin i-grab yung opportunity na ito and gusto ko talagang magcontribute sa team.”

Amie Provido had nine points, while Shane Reterta added seven points in the first La Salle-NU clash in the SSL since 2022.

La Salle, which ruled the 2023 National Invitationals, survived a grueling first set, saving NU’s six set-point advantages before Canino and Belen trade errors for a 30-all deadlock. Canino brought the Lady Spikers at set point with a back row hit followed by Solomon’s attack error to draw the first blood.

The Lady Spikers got dominated in the second set but got their act together in the third as Lilay brought them at set point, 24-22, before Cham Maaya committed a crucial error, handing the 2-1 match advantage to La Salle.

NU started the second round off the wrong foot after a 4-0 finish in the first round, while La Salle stayed unbeaten, boosting its chance for a twice-to-beat quarterfinal advantage in Pool E.

Solomon carried the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points, while Belen and Vange Alinsug had 13 points each, missing the services of Arah Panique.

New NU coach Sherwin Meneses lost his first NU-La Salle game to the Lady Spikers deputy Noel Orcullo, who is filling in the big shoes of Ramil De Jesus this preseason.

UST Tigresses’ Angge Poyos tries to get a point against Ateneo in the Shakey’s Super League.–SSL PHOTO

READ: Poyos leads UST fightback vs UE for Shakey’s Super League Pool B sweep

Meanwhile, The University of Santo Tomas and University of the East opened their second-round campaigns with separate straight-set wins.

UST dominated Ateneo, 25-11, 25-20, 25-17, to kick off its Pool F campaign on a high note as setter Cassie Carballo paced the team’s dominant win, which only lasted for 85 minutes.

“Sobrang laking factor for us ‘yung relationship namin outside the court. Nagsisimula ‘yun sa relationship namin outside the court and nadadala namin ‘yun sa loob. Kanina, naglaro lang kami ng buo,” said Carballo, who had 13 excellent sets and three points after 11 other Tigresses contributed points.

Angge Poyos poured in 17 points, all coming from attacks including the back-to-back hits to finish the game. Jonna Perdido contributed nine points. Reg Jurado chipped in eight points, while Marga Altea nailed three of her seven points from kill blocks.

UST tries to boost its chances for a quarterfinals twice-to-beat incentive against Far Eastern University on Friday, while Ateneo seeks to bounce back against the University of the Philippines.

AC Miner led the Blue Eagles with eight points, Yvana Sulit delivered six points, while Lyann De Guzman and Sobe Buena had five each.

UE turned to the dynamic duo of Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero to beat College of Saint Benilde, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, in Pool E.

Dongallo and Gajero kept the last NCAA team in the SSL at bay as they put on the finishing touches in their tight third-set duel.

Dongallo led the Lady Warriors with a game-high 16 points off 15 attacks and one kill block. Gajero scored seven points, while Kai Cepada also had the same production as the former.

“Malapit na matapos ‘yung set and hindi ‘yun ‘yung time na mag-relax pa kami. Kung patapos na we have to put all our effort na kasi lahat naman gusto nang manalo,” said Dongallo.

St. Benilde gave up 24 errors in the game. Clydel Catarig and Grace Borromeo had 12 and nine points, respectively.