La Salle’s Angel Canino celebrates during a win over Adamson in UAAP Season 87.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Angel Canino relished her first duel with Adamson super rookie Shaina Nitura in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Canino, who won Rookie of the Year and Season 85 MVP two years ago, got the better of Nitura as La Salle swept Adamson, 25-21, 26-24, 25-20, on Saturday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
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The La Salle captain was all praises for Nitura, who had 16 points against them, following a rookie record of 33-point explosion in their five-set win over Ateneo last week.
READ: UAAP: Regaining confidence, La Salle gets bounce-back win
Canino and coach RDJ on Adamson rookie Shaina Nitura. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/8jtn7CDJvW
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“Pinahirapan kami niyan sa preparations pa lang, pinahirapan niya kami kasi sabi nga ni coach Ramil, ang dami niyang variations as a player and sobrang tapang ni Nitura na kahit sino iharap mo, kaya niyang gawan ng paraan,” said Canino, who had 15 points and six digs.
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“I think pinahirapan niya rin kami kaya isa siya sa mga prinepare talaga coming into this game. Sobrang bilib rin ako sa kanya kasi ang tapang niya talaga humarap sa kahit na sino na parang bang hindi siya rookie.”
La Salle’s 12-time champion coach Ramil De Jesus was in awe of Nitura’s volleyball IQ.
“Yung bata, bata pa talaga pero grabe maglaro. Grabe ‘yung instinct, makikita mo ‘yung court IQ niya sobrang taas. At the same time, ‘yung leadership niya talagang siguro pagdating ng sophomore or junior year nito ibang klase na ‘tong batang ‘to sobra,” said De Jesus.
Adamson High School MVP and champion Nitura’s effort went for naught as La Salle forced a three-way tie at 1-1 with them and the University Santo Tomas.
The third-year Canino didn’t focus on their marquee duel, applying all their learnings from a tough straight-set loss to defending champion National University last week.
READ: UAAP: La Salle rebounds, sweeps Adamson in women’s volleyball
“Ang dami rin namin learning na nakuha noong natalo kami, parang ang dami naming realizations na as a team and also as a individual na nakatulong para ibalik namin yung sarili namin at dahan-dahan namin binabalik yung kumpyansa na meron kami,” said Canino.
“Kung ano ‘man nangyari nung first game namin, kailangan i-stop na namin yung mga negative na comment na narinig namin or yung negative thoughts na meron kami and doon lang kami sa kung paano kami mag-improve as a team and sa sarili rin namin.”
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Canino and the Lady Spikers take on the Tigresses in a rematch of last year’s Final Four on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“Alam naman namin na matapang din sila at hindi sila basta-basta gumigive up every point, so I think yun din yung kailangan i-work on namin,” she said.