Top rookie Angel Canino of De La Salle University downplayed the stare down contest between her and reigning Most Valuable Player Bella Belen of National University during Game 1 of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women's volleyball best-of-three finals series.

Canino engaged Belen not only in a hitting showdown but also had quite a few moments of intense stare downs that made the action-packed five-set thriller won by the Lady Spikers, 18-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13, even more entertaining for the almost 11,000-strong crowd.

"It's part of the game, as usual," Canino, who finished with a team-high 21 points and 14 excellent receptions, said following Game 1 last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 19-year-old spiker added that the exchange of swag and on-court antics will just stay inside the court.

"Whatever you see inside the court, that's just a game. Outside the court, we are all friends," said Canino, who helped La Salle-Zobel deny Belen and the NU-Nazareth School of a UAAP girls' volleyball five-peat in 2018.

Belen, who came up with 22 markers, 18 excellent receptions and 12 digs, as well as the rest of the Lady Bulldogs respectfully declined to grant interview after the loss.

Canino fired important hits in the Lady Spikers' decisive fourth set turnaround and in the tightly-contested deciding frame.

"Our mindset and what I tell myself is to bring out my best because we're already here (in the finals). This is the real battle as our coaches would always say," Canino said.

The freshman also enjoyed her first taste of college championship atmosphere.

"I really cherish this experience and opportunity to play in the finals and to bring out my best," she said.

"There's pressure but we have to learn to ignore these external and internal pressures."

La Salle will try to finish off the same team that won the title last year at its expense on Sunday to end a five-year championship drought and claim its 12th crown overall.