Nearing the finish line

MONICO PUENTEVELLA

Yes, I had to wait for the UST-DLSU showdown last weekend before I could start this article.

I had a hunch the UAAP MVP star from Bacolod, Angel Canino, was going to play after missing five straight games.

And the dome of Smart Araneta roared when she came out of the dugout to face their nemesis this year, surprising UST. Yet, this was a different Canino though.

Seems like she was just forced to play this crucial twice to beat cliff hanger, which ever team won this game. After missing so many important games, she couldn’t even serve well all throughout the deciding game.

One even went straight to the floor without flying in the air. We all knew then something was still wrong with her hidden arm. Anyway, this forced Coach Ramil de Jesus to put Laput in the front line to do everything.

And true enough, she bombed the UST defense and put the Lady Spikers in the saddle for the first set. It was all Laput and she played her best game I’ve ever seen. UST Coach Kung Fu came back prepared in the next three sets to ruin Angel’s return for the second round.

And the Spikers couldn’t solve Poyas hammering all through out the game. This time, Coach Kung Fu had Ramils number. UST really came prepared and they had beaten the defending champion twice already this year.

First and second round. What we want to see now is whether Coach Ramil can still do a Houdini in the next semi final round. Twice to beat NU or UST would take quite a Herculean task for any other coach no matter how good.

But then, who knows, Canino would already be 100% fit by the next time she steps on the court and that could rejuvenate the former champions.

Even middle Spiker Gagate didn’t do much against UST, while Poyos made the UST crowd crazy and dancing. Let’s all enjoy the next semi finals although it looks like an NU vs UST finals? Let’s wait and see which one will the final bless.

From hereon, every game counts and we’re nearing the finish line. I just love this game.

More than the PVL or whatever you have there. These guys dive on the floor for their alma mater.

And thats quite a lot of difference.