Games today:
(Rizal Memorial Coliseum)
3:30 p.m. — EAC vs Arellano
6 p.m. — Letran vs JRU

MANILA — De La Salle University survived an early test after beating University of the Philippines, 25-14, 18-25, 26-24, 25-12, to announce its return in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Pre-season Championship Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Lady Spikers, back after skipping last year’s edition, turned to grizzled veterans Angel Canino and Shevana Laput in repelling the gritty Fighting Maroons to open their Pool C campaign on a bright note.

UP gave La Salle fits in the second and third sets but the 2023 National Invitationals champion regained its bearing in the fourth with Canino and Laput at the helm.

The Lady Spikers used a huge 14-2 fourth set blitz to open an 11-point lead, 16-5, that zapped the fight out of the Fighting Maroons in their thrilling encounter in the centerpiece SSL tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, GCash, Chery Tiggo, F2 Logistics, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, R and B Milk Tea and Summit Water.

Laput scored seven of her 18 points in the fourth frame including the game-sealing crosscourt kill while Canino added 16 points with 14 coming off attacks for La Salle.

“For the team, it was really just sticking to our system, listening to what the coaches were telling us but most importantly playing with pride and puso,” the 2023 National Invitationals Most Valuable Player said after La Salle weathered UP’s challenge.

Amie Provido added 10 points while Katrina Del Castillo had eight for the Lady Spikers.

After splitting the first two frames, the Lady Spikers controlled the third set and even held a 23-18 lead. But the Fighting Maroons fired four straight points to knot it at 23.

A UP miscue gave La Salle the set point advantage before Irah Jaboneta scored a hit for a 24-24 deuce. Laput answered with a crosscourt kill and Provido won it for La Salle off a kill block on Kassandra Doering.

Rookie Kianne Olango scored 12 points with half of it coming in the Fighting Maroons’ second set assault. Doering finished with seven markers while Jaboneta and Nina Ytang chipped in six for UP.

Meanwhile, University of the East recovered from a set down to turn back an upset-conscious Lyceum of the Philippines University, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22, 25-14, in Pool B late Saturday.

Jelai Gajero, back from a knee injury she sustained last year, delivered an impressive performance for the Lady Warriors as she dropped a game-high 20 points from 17 kills, two kill blocks and an ace.

Riza Nogales added 15 markers while KC Cepada and Nahomie Mpata scored nine and eight points for UE, which encountered stiff resistance from the Lady Pirates in the first three sets before cruising in the fourth.

Johna Dolorito was the lone Lyceum player in double figures with 10 points.

Action continues Sunday with Emilio Aguinaldo College squaring off with Arellano University at 3:30 p.m. in Pool A of the tilt which has Smart Sports, PLDT Fibr, Mikasa, Asics, Rebel Sports, Eurotel, Victory Liner, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), SM Tickets as technical partners.

Pool C squads Letran College and Jose Rizal University battle at 6 p.m. to cap the tournament airing live and on-demand via Puso Pilipinas, SMART Livestream, Solar Sports Channel 70 on Sky Cable and Channel 59 on Cable Link.