Shevana Laput and Vince Maglinao delivered stellar performances as De La Salle University secured significant victories in the final stretch of the UAAP Season 86 Women’s and Men’s Volleyball Tournaments.
The two ace spikers excelled, contributing significantly to the Taft-based squads’ 2-0 record during the crucial period leading into the final week of the tournament, which held major playoff implications.
Their heroics proved more than sufficient as Laput and Maglinao were named the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Players of the Week, presented by San Miguel Corporation from April 17 to 21.
It’s the first weekly citation for the La Salle stars, and it couldn’t have come at a better time to bolster their campaigns for similar twice-to-beat bids in the Final Four.
Sophomore Laput delivered a season-high performance on April 17, tallying 24 points with 22 attacks and two blocks in the Lady Spikers’ victory over the Adamson Lady Falcons, 17-25, 25-19, 25-11, 25-22.
The 6-foot-2 opposite hitter continued her impressive form in La Salle’s dominant win against arch-rivals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, contributing 15 points with 12 attacks and three blocks for a 25-12, 25-12, 25-18 triumph.
Laput has admirably filled in for the Lady Spikers since Angel Canino suffered a right arm injury, averaging 20.4 points per game and helping La Salle achieve an 11-2 record this season, tied with NU and UST for the No. 1 seed in a fiercely contested race for the Top 2 and win-once bonuses in the Final Four.
Despite her solid performances, Laput acknowledges there’s still plenty of room for improvement in her game.
“I’m just glad there’s progress. I always think to myself that I’m a work in progress, so this isn’t my best, and I know I can do much more, but I’m glad that right now, I’m contributing to the team,” said Laput.
Laput also ensured to credit her teammates’ efforts in helping La Salle remain undefeated during the crucial week.
“I’m also proud of my teammates because from the stats here, we can see that everyone did something, so I’m just glad that we’re working together as a team,” said Laput. “I’m very excited to show everybody we’re the Lady Spikers, and this is how we play.”
Laput outperformed FEU’s Faida Bakanke, NU’s Bella Belen, and UST’s Angge Poyos for the weekly honor, supported by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.
Meanwhile, Maglinao delivered all-around performances to help the Green Spikers secure a Final Four slot and stay in contention for a twice-to-beat advantage.
In their straight-set victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 26-24, 25-17, 25-23, Maglinao contributed a solid 11 points along with eight excellent receptions.
La Salle’s outside hitter then tallied 19 points, along with nine excellent digs and seven excellent receptions in the team’s 25-21, 23-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over the Ateneo Blue Eagles, which eliminated their long-time rivals from Final Four contention.
With a 10-3 record, DLSU is tied with the NU Bulldogs with just one game left in the elimination round for the second seed and the last twice-to-beat semis.
As the Final Four approaches, Maglinao hopes that the Green Spikers can continue to display their hunger and desire during the games.
“Siguro nandun pa rin kami sa paghahanap namin ng improvement every after ng game namin kasi hindi kami puwede na makontento kung ano ‘yung meron kami. We have to keep on improving para sa next round,” said Maglinao.
Maglinao earned all the media votes, outperforming teammate Nathaniel Del Pillar, FEU’s Andrei Delicana, UST’s Josh Ybañez, and NU’s Leo Aringo for his first Player of the Week award.
