At the heart of La Salle’s championship chase are Angel Canino and Alleiah Malaluan, standouts who have become steadying forces for the Lady Spikers.
They share a bond strengthened not only by time on the court but also through triumphs and heartbreaks.
Both reflected on that connection ahead of a showdown with National University and a chance to deliver another championship in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament.
“I’m really happy to be playing with Angel,” Malaluan said. “At the same time, we’re drawing from all the years we’ve been together. The connection is already there, but we still need something stronger so we’re really ready when the Finals come.”
“My partnership with [Malaluan], ever since high school [at Zobel], has helped a lot—especially on the court—because I have someone I can trust,” Canino said. “We’ve been together for so long and have gone through a lot.
“Our connection is there, and everyone has witnessed the effort Leiah has put in and the bond we’ve built,” Canino added. “Whatever we have, we try to share it. We share our bond with the rest of the team so that we stay united.”
That familiarity has become integral for La Salle, a perennial contender for the title. It was on full display in the Final Four against University of Santo Tomas (UST) last week.
Sense of community
Now, the pair is counting on that chemistry to come through once more when the lights shine brightest and the stakes are highest this Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum against the top-ranked and defending champion Lady Bulldogs.
For Canino and Malaluan, this looming Finals duel isn’t just another high-stakes match—it’s a continuation of a journey that began long before they donned the iconic green-and-white jerseys together in high school.
“We’ve been through so much together,” Canino added. “That connection, we bring it to the rest of the team.”
It’s that sense of continuity—of veterans guiding the younger players, of tradition passed down—that has long defined the Lady Spikers under coach Ramil de Jesus.
“The job’s not done. Actually, it’s just beginning,” said Malaluan.
“This is only the beginning of what they call the real battle,” Canino said. “We have to prepare and improve whatever needs fixing. Because we have a goal for the team.”
