Laput hunger keys Lady Spikers surge

De La Salle University star Shevana Laput marched into the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament fueled by the desire to end years of heartaches.

The first-time skipper led by example by anchoring the Lady Spikers’ back-to-back wins for a perfect start in their redemption tour.

Her efforts for last year’s runner-up were not left unnoticed as she earned the nod for the Collegiate Press Corps Player of the Week honors presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the period covering 14 to 22 February.

The Filipino-Australian fired 23 points and added five digs to power La Salle’s 25-19, 25-14, 27-25 Valentine’s Day sweep of Far Eastern University.

A week later, the 6-foot-2 opposite spiker unloaded 21 points on 17 kills and four kill blocks as the Lady Spikers fended off University of Santo Tomas, 25-14, 25-15, 26-24.

“Of course, we want to win all our games in three sets and we knew that we had the capability to finish that set but we extended it,” said Laput, who scored the Lady Spikers’ last three points in the tight third set duel with the Golden Tigresses.

“We just had to really show the Lasallian puso right then and there.”

Laput edged teammate Angel Canino, University of the Philippines standout Niña Ytang, and the National University trio of Sam Cantada, Vange Alinsug and Arah Panique for the weekly citation given by reporters from print and online publications covering the league.

Just like Laput, Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Dryx Saavedra stormed into the season eager to get past the bridesmaid tag.

The Tamaraws emerged as the last unbeaten squad after a week of competition behind Saavedra’s steady offense, enough to bag the Player of the Week recognition in the men’s division.

The Ilonggo spiker delivered 16 points in FEU’s 25-19, 25-22, 25-19 sweep of La Salle on opening day before adding 11 points and seven digs in a 25-20, 25-23, 25-23 win over University of the East four days later.

But his biggest performance came last Saturday, when he dropped 15 points in a 22-25, 25-21, 25-17, 25-20 statement win over six-peat-seeking National University in a rematch of last year’s finale.