DLSU
Shevana Laput says La Salle’s true challenge is within
After a dominant 2-0 start to the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament, newly appointed De La Salle University team captain Shevana Laput made one thing clear: the job is far from over.
The Lady Spikers opened their Season 88 campaign with emphatic wins over perennial contenders Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws and, more notably, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses—a team that had long figured in La Salle’s heartbreaks over the past decade.
For the Fil-Aussie opposite spiker, matchups against one of La Salle’s storied rivals always push the Lady Spikers to bring out their best.
Following her 23-point outing against the Lady Tamaraws, the 21-year-old continued her fine form against the Golden Tigresses, scoring 21 points—19 of which came in the last two sets—on 17 spikes and four blocks.
“Of course, a strong team like UST pushes us to be the best,” Laput said after the game.
The rivalry has intensified in the UAAP’s post-pandemic era, with the Golden Tigresses eliminating La Salle in the Final Four of Season 86, only for the Lady Spikers to return the favor by dashing UST’s championship hopes in Season 87.
And while La Salle has now bested UST in four consecutive encounters, Laput stressed that making quick work of any contender in the highly competitive eight-team field is not the ultimate measure of the Ramil de Jesus-mentored squad’s growth.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Instead, the 6-foot-2 spiker pointed inward. As La Salle seeks to erase the heartbreak of a third-place finish in Season 86 and a runner-up placing in Season 87, Laput believes the team’s toughest opponent isn’t across the net—it’s within themselves.
“At the end of the day, we are our best opponents, actually. We play better because we want to be better. No matter what team we play against, we’ll always play our best,” Laput explained.
The 21-year-old proved that statement on Sunday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
As Angge Poyos and Xyza Gula mounted a late third-set rally that sent UST to set point at 24-22, Laput stepped up in the clutch with two consecutive rejections on Gula, followed by a drop shot that sealed the Golden Tigresses’ first 0-2 start since Season 79 (2017).
For Laput, beyond stepping up against a strong contender like UST, the Lady Spikers draw—and will always draw—motivation and lessons from the heartbreak that marred their past two seasons.
“Definitely for us seniors, having that heartbreak that we’ve had for the past two seasons, we want to come into this season and make bawi and finally capture what we believe is truly ours. At the end of the day, it’s very much a mind game. All of the teams here in the UAAP are skilled, but it’s who wants it more and who wants to win more,” Laput shared.
None other than lead deputy Noel Orcullo applauded Laput’s growth as the Lady Spikers’ skipper—from struggling when Coach De Jesus first appointed her to now fully embracing the role alongside batchmates Angel Canino, Amie Provido, and Lyka de Leon.
“For Shevana, siguro in-embrace lang niya yung task na binigay sa kanya sa pagiging captain. Nakita naman namin ’yan nung una, nagsa-struggle siya, ‘eh,” Orcullo said.
“Nung in-announce ni coach na siya team captain, medyo nag-struggle and nag-overthink siya. Sabi nga namin sa kanya, ‘Shevana, yang nasa dibdib mo, guhit lang yan. Hindi mo kailangang buhatin nang buo yung team. Marami kang katulong.’”
#WATCH: MARAMI KANG KATULONG
Noel Orcullo could not help but be proud of Shev Laput’s growth as La Salle’s skipper in #UAAPSeason88
#ReadMore
https://t.co/qny4x2l6qJ
@ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/puYABCZqsp
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 22, 2026
The post Shevana Laput says La Salle’s true challenge is within appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
A year ago, De La Salle University preached patience.
When the Lady Spikers stumbled out of the gate in Season 87, head coach Ramil de Jesus urged calm as former setter Jules Tolentino and then-rookie playmaker Mikole Reyes navigated early jitters.
The team eventually fought to a silver-medal finish, falling short against three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen and the National University Lady Bulldogs.
Twelve months later, poise triumphed over pressure as La Salle unleashed another rookie playmaker, aiming to follow in the footsteps of former orchestrators Mars Alba and Julia Coronel.
Far from looking like a pure rookie, 19-year-old Eshana Nunag displayed composure beyond her years. She orchestrated a controlled performance that activated star spikers Angel Canino and Shevana Laput in a straight-sets victory over Far Eastern University, opening La Salle’s redemption drive in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
In her UAAP collegiate debut, Nunag immediately earned praise from long-time deputy Noel Orcullo for guiding the Lady Spikers’ main weapons — Laput, who finished with 23 points, and Canino, who contributed 15 of her own.
“So far, ‘yon nga yung first game niya, iniisip nga namin na kakalog siya, pero hindi naman. At least, nakapasa siya sa unang test niya,” Orcullo said after Saturday’s game at a packed SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“Sana magtuloy-tuloy yung kumpyansa niya at mabuo nang husto going into the league, pa-second round, until the end. Hopefully by then, buong-buo na kumpyansa niya by then.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The former NU-Nazareth standout did admit to feeling pressure and early jitters. But she was grateful not just for the support of the decorated coaching staff led by De Jesus and Orcullo, but also for the guidance provided by ‘Ates’ Canino and Laput.
Through the tense one-hour and 33-minute battle — highlighted by a thrilling 40-minute back-and-forth third set — Nunag revealed that having outspoken leaders in the battle-tested duo of Canino and Laput helped her compose herself against the Lady Tamaraws’ pair of setters, Tin Ubaldo and Karyll Miranda.
“During the game, very vocal sila sa mga parang… Kahit despite sa mga errors or imperfections sa loob ng court, lagi silang nandiyan. Parang no problem naman, ganyan, dahil kaya ko raw i-up yung sarili ko beyond that,” Nunag shared.
“Lagi sila nandiyan to assure na may papatay [ng bola] dahil as a non-scoring position, sa kanila ko nakukuha yung kumpyansa ko,” she added.
“Siyempre parang sa una, nakakaba dahil freshman and first six na agad. Pero with the help of the coaches and Ates, tiwalang-tiwala ako na hindi nila ako ipapahamak and gagawin nila lahat for me and for the team. No problems dahil naa-assure ako sa loob ng court kahit nagkakamali.”
With her UAAP debut behind her, Nunag now looks forward to a more intense challenge when La Salle faces another perennial contender, the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, next Sunday, February 22, at a packed MOA Arena.
Eager to test her mettle against Season 86 Best Setter Cassie Carballo, Nunag will once again rely on the guidance of De Jesus, Orcullo, Canino, and Laput to prove her worth as La Salle’s next setter.
“Kakayanin yung crowd na kahit marami or lamang yung crowd nila kaysa sa La Salle, dahil sa support ng teammates and coaches, kakayanin namin,” she vowed.
“E-expect ko na lang din yung ingay and yung drums.”
#WATCH: LAGI SILA NANDIYAN
Eshana Nunag is glad to have her ‘ates’ Angel Canino and Shevana Laput guide her in her rookie year
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 14, 2026
The post Shan Nunag shows composure beyond year in La Salle debut appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
In a clash between last year’s Final Four teams, De La Salle University silenced Far Eastern University with a 25-19, 25-14, 27-25 sweep in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament opener at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday.
The Lady Spikers overcame a 12-16 and 22-24 deficit in the third set and maintained their momentum to complete the straight-sets victory.
For Angel Canino, the credit goes to new La Salle captain Shevana Laput and the energy she brought to her role and responsibilities.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Talagang nagbi-bring ng positive energy sa loob ng court kasi ano siya e up girl siya, positive girly, hype girl talaga siya ever since,” said the Season 85 rookie MVP after their win.
“‘Yung pagiging positive niya talaga niya nadadala niya sa loob ng court like may mga teammates kami na nadadown pero dahil sa ginagawa niya nali-lift kami.”
Canino noted that Laput’s positivity, both on and off the court, perfectly complemented what the other seniors have contributed to the squad.
Amie Provido, Lyka De Leon, and Canino are also fourth-year players for the Lady Spikers.
Laput led by example, racking up 23 points on 20 spikes, two blocks, and an ace, while Canino added 15 points. Provido also breached double digits with 11 points.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Napupush kaming seniors na maging positive so magandang environment talaga, naging maganda yung environment namin nung naging captain si Shevana. Mag-batchmates din kami kaya talagang maganda yung naging dynamics namin kasi meron kaming good guy, bad guy,” Canino said.
“So nagiging pantay talaga kasi sa labas ng court magbibigay kami ng opinyon namin kaming mga seniors and doon lang namin paguusapan kung anong best para sa team,” she added.
“Lagi naming iniisip kung anong pinakabest sa team hindi best para sa amin lang seniors or best para sa mga bata hindi siya bias base lahat ng sinasabi namin kaya nagiging maganda yung dynamic namin kaya lumalabas yung result starting today.”
La Salle’s mettle will be tested again as its next opponent is another Final Four team, University of Santo Tomas, on February 22.
The Lady Spikers will hope that their four seniors, along with the rest of the team, can continue thriving in this positive environment.
#WATCH: THEY’RE A STRONG TEAM
Skipper Shevana Laput and deputy coach Noel Orcullo are bracing for a tough matchup against UST
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 14, 2026
The post Angel Canino loves La Salle’s ‘good guy, bad guy’ leadership with Shev Laput at helm appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
National University has been a dominant force in UAAP women’s volleyball since Season 84, capturing three of the last four championships.
Even in the one season they didn’t take home the crown, the Lady Bulldogs still made it to the finals, falling only to the De La Salle Lady Spikers in Season 85.
But with the heart and soul of the NU squad now in the professional ranks—Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon—La Salle believes the upcoming Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament could be the most unpredictable yet in the post-pandemic era.
“It is a wide-open race to the throne,” said Lady Spikers deputy coach Noel Orcullo during Wednesday’s UAAP Volleyball Press Conference.
“Lahat naman ng teams competitive. Even the other teams, lahat talaga sobrang nag-step up. Wala ka nang sasabihin mong madaling kalaban. Lahat mahirap,” he added.
“Walang madaling kalaban ngayon. Lahat mahirap. ‘Yung iba, bago ‘yung coaches, bago ‘yung sistema. So talagang paghahandaan na lang bawat team. So expect na lang talaga na hindi magiging madali ‘yung mga panalo.”
La Salle will lean on its core from Season 85—MVP Angel Canino, Shevana Laput, Amie Provido, and Lyka De Leon—to try to reclaim the crown. But other teams have also strengthened their lineups.
University of Santo Tomas returns healthier this season, with outside hitters Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula back in the fold, two key players sorely missed in Season 87. Far Eastern University maintains its core, while Adamson University added reinforcements to support explosive scorer Shaina Nitura.
University of the Philippines also beefed up its roster, welcoming Casiey Dongallo and Jelai Gajero, who will join Niña Ytang, Joan Monares, and Irah Jaboneta to form a solid core.
“Oo naman we’re confident, alam namin na we’re capable of getting the championship this season pero at the same time alam namin na hindi madali yung pagdadaanan namin kasi lahat ng teams ngayon nagiimprove din, lahat sila nagtatrabaho rin to get the championship pero syempre hindi kami titigil, gagawin namin lahat ng makakaya namin,” said La Salle middle blocker Amie Provido, who spent the offseason playing for Alas Pilipinas.
“I mean, yes, we are taking it (that Bella and Alyssa are gone), but at the end of the day, all teams are still very strong. All teams are competitors in this tournament. We are coming into this one game at a time, focusing on whoever our competitor is at the moment. Whoever it is at the finals, we will do our best to beat them,” added Lady Spikers new captain Shevana Laput.
Orcullo also reminded everyone that NU will remain formidable despite losing its stars, as Vange Alinsug, Camilla Lamina, and Shaira Jardio step up to leadership roles. They also welcome Season 87 Girls’ MVP Sam Cantada, adding firepower to the lineup.
“Kahit sabihin mong nawala si Bella, nawala si Aly, nandoon pa rin naman yung core ng NU. May pumanhik pa, like si Cantada, medyo nakita naman natin ‘yung naging performance niya, sobrang maganda,” said Orcullo.
With every team strengthening its roster, La Salle is entering Season 88 fully aware that there is no such thing as an easy win anymore.
#WATCH: LAHAT NG TEAMS COMPETITIVE
La Salle deputy Noel Orcullo sees a highly-competitive #UAAPSeason88#ReadMore
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) February 11, 2026
The post DLSU Lady Spikers ready for battle as UAAP 88 promises no easy wins appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.
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