Alas Women teammates Angel Canino, Shaina Nitura set for UAAP showdown as La Salle faces Adamson

Two of the brightest young stars in Philippine volleyball will momentarily set aside their national team camaraderie when De La Salle Lady Spikers and Adamson Lady Falcons collide in a highly anticipated showdown on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The matchup carries an added layer of intrigue as national teammates Angel Canino and Shaina Nitura find themselves on opposite sides of the net.

Both players have been part of the pool for Alas Pilipinas women’s national volleyball team in recent international competitions and preparations for the Southeast Asian Games, sharing the same wing-spiker rotation that features some of the country’s most promising talents.

But on Wednesday, their focus shifts back to collegiate rivalries.

La Salle enters the clash riding a five-game winning streak after dismantling the UE Lady Warriors, while Adamson gained a surge of confidence following a stunning straight-sets upset of the UST Golden Tigresses.

The victories only intensified anticipation for what many expect to be one of the marquee matches of the round.

Canino, the former Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player who powered La Salle to the Season 85 title, remains the cornerstone of the Lady Spikers’ title defense. 

Known for her explosive attacking and all-around presence, she continues to anchor the Taft-based squad alongside returning captain Shevana Laput.

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#WATCH: FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO SLOW THEM DOWN

Shaina Nitura and the Adamson Lady Falcons will go back to the lab as they prepare for Angel Canino and the DLSU Lady Spikers #ReadMore https://t.co/q8vR0A5g0v

@ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times #UAAPSeason88 pic.twitter.com/JYvHcuT2P8

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 7, 2026

WATCH: Angel Canino talks about La Salle’s next game against Adamson. She also briefly talks about Shaina Nitura. #UAAPSeason88 | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/aSQwpwnxKZ

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) March 7, 2026

Nitura, meanwhile, has quickly established herself as one of the most dangerous scorers in the collegiate ranks.

The Adamson standout captured the Rookie of the Year honors in Season 87 after a historic freshman campaign that included a UAAP-record 38-point performance and a league-leading scoring output for the season.

Both stars also showcased their talent on the international stage as members of Alas Pilipinas, where the next generation of Filipina spikers is being groomed to lead the national program in upcoming regional tournaments.

Now, however, they will stand on opposite sides of the court with their respective teams looking to strengthen their Final Four push.

La Salle may hold the momentum, but the Lady Spikers know better than to underestimate an Adamson squad energized by its recent breakthrough performance.

“Actually, these kids relaxed so we had to remind them to treat UE with respect,” La Salle assistant coach Noel Orcullo said after their latest win. “They should treat their opponents with respect every time.”

Canino herself acknowledged that the Lady Spikers still have plenty to clean up despite their winning run.

“Our errors, as a team, were so evident,” she said. “That’s what gave UE their confidence, so we tried avoiding those.”

Adamson coach JP Yude, meanwhile, praised the collective effort that led to the Lady Falcons’ morale-boosting victory over UST.

“All of them contributed and they always followed our instructions,” Yude said. “Overall, I’m very glad and proud of how they played today because this is what we’ve been looking for from them.”

With both teams coming off statement wins and their young stars in top form, Wednesday’s duel promises more than just another entry in the standings.

For Canino and Nitura, it will be a friendly rivalry — one where teammates in national colors temporarily become fierce competitors under the bright lights of the UAAP.

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