La Salle’s Alleiah Malaluan during a game against Adamson in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Alleiah Malaluan and the La Salle Lady Spikers heeded coach Ramil De Jesus’ call to play with confidence after a rare opening game loss in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
Licking the wounds of a straight-set loss to National University, Malaluan powered La Salle’s bounce back with 16 points, sweeping Adamson, 25-21, 26-24, 25-20, on Saturday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
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“Maybe during that day nandoon yung pain pero at the same time, sabi nga ni coach, walang natatalo. Lahat may natututunan,” said Malaluan, who had 13 kills, two aces, and a block.
READ: UAAP: La Salle rebounds, sweeps Adamson in women’s volleyball
La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus, Alleiah Malaluan, and Angel Canino after beating Adamson. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/kAMt6bsgWO
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“We don’t consider that as a loss. Kasi nga, may natutunan kami. That loss became a motivation for all of us kasi parang we really wanted to bounce back in today’s game.”
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De Jesus, who suffered his first opening loss in 13 years last week, believes his wards lacked confidence against the Lady Bulldogs.
The Lady Spikers reignited their confidence, overcoming the rookie-laden Lady Falcons led by Shaina Nitura.
“Yung pagdating sa loob ng court eh ‘yung confidence nila. Kasi last Sunday, hindi ganun eh. Nangangapa. Nandun naman ‘yung buong tiwala ko naman na nandun sila, pero ‘yun ‘yung unang unang inalis nila sa sarili nila na dapat maibalik,” said De Jesus.
Malaluan seeks to build from this confidence booster in their mission to bring back La Salle to the Finals after getting dethroned by the twice-to-beat University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four last year.
READ: UAAP: La Salle coach Ramil De Jesus laments rare opening loss
“Hopefully, magtuloy tuloy na yung team namin and I hope na parang every game naman kasi learning process for all of us so we take it one game at a time,” said the fourth-year spiker. “Hindi naman namin sinasabi na eto na yung La Salle [na kilala] or what kasi may room pa kami for improvement.”
La Salle, which is tied with Adamson and UST at 1-1, takes on their tormentor last year led by Angge Poyos and Reg Jurado on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
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“Yung pagkakawala nung dalawang key players nila last year, malaking factor yun pero sabi ko nga malalim ang bench ng UST,” said De Jesus, referring to UST injured players Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula. “Marami silang pwedeng paikutin. Hopefully, mapaghandaan namin and then at the same time makalaro kami nang maganda kapag nagharap kami.”
“Despite having [injuries] sa players, we still look at them as someone na very competitive. We treat every opponent na magaling talaga. Same ng ginawa namin with other teams, pagaaralan namin, paghihirapan namin yung next few days before the game,” she said.