La Salle’s Shevana Laput during a win over UST in a UAAP women’s volleyball playoff.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — After La Salle was dethroned by University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four last year, Shevana Laput said the Lady Spikers “rewrote” the narrative by claiming the last twice-to-beat incentive at the expense of the Golden Tigresses on Wednesday.
Laput and La Salle, which lost to No. 2 UST in last season’s semifinal round, made sure to avoid a de ja vu following a 23-25, 25-20, 30-28, 29-27 victory over the Tigresses in a playoff.
Laput drilled the game-winning hit that capped a 22-point effort.
READ: UAAP: La Salle claims twice-to-beat, fends off UST
Shevana Laput: We rewrote our stories. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/sedbY7pmab
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) April 30, 2025
“Especially for the people who were in the lineup last season, we rewrote our story and with this new team, we know that we can go all the way to the end,” said Laput, who recorded 19 kills, two blocks, and an ace.
“This is just a confidence booster. This shows that we are capable.”
La Salle and UST have had numerous Final Four battles in the past decade with the former’s four-peat bid getting snapped by the twice-to-beat Tigresses, led by Sisi Rondina and Eya Laure, in a playoff and eventually winning the Final Four of Season 81 in 2019.
The twice-to-beat Lady Spikers eliminated the Tigresses during Laure’s final year on their way to a Season 85 title two years ago before UST exacted a sweet revenge last season to reach the finals, while sending its rival to third place.
Laput, with team captain Angel Canino, was eager to get the edge this time in leading a young crew.
READ: UAAP: UST, La Salle on destined collision course in Final Four
“This playoff was such a big opportunity for us. Despite everything that has happened in this, in the elimination round, we were given this playoff chance and we were not gonna throw away this shot,” said Laput. “We fought for this. We definitely put our hearts out, everything out, because we know we need this. This twice-to-beat. This is our best opportunity and of course, I’m super proud of all of us.“
“We did move on, we chose not to dwell on what has happened. We chose to focus on what can happen and the opportunities that are coming our way. We’ve stopped just waiting, we’re taking. We’re taking the win because know that we deserve it. We earned it,” he added.
La Salle deputy coach Noel Orcullo lauded his wards for wanting it more this time.
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“Maybe the difference this time is that these young players really want to win. Last year, we kind of lacked that. But now, I think the younger players are pushing themselves more—of course with our guidance too, to take charge of what they want this season. They’re the ones making it happen,” said Orcullo in Filipino, speaking for Ramil De Jesus.
“But the fight’s not over yet. We only secured the twice-to-beat advantage, but the real battle is still in the semifinals. That’s when we’ll really need to make the most of this edge we’ve earned. We can’t afford to let it go,” he added.
