Laure makes strong case for UAAP MVP

AFTER the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament first round, De La Salle ace Angel Canino seemed to be on her way of replicating what NU star Bella Belen did in Season 84 — to win both the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.

Canino proved to be unstoppable, especially in the scoring department, being that major driving force of the Lady Spikers sweep of the first round.

But after a few more games in the second round, a new candidate has emerged in the discussion, the Eya Laure for MVP is gaining traction, too.

The third year outside spiker of the UST Golden Tigresses is making a case for it, having the stats to back that discussion up.

Heading into the Holy Week break, Laure became the leading scorer of the league with a total of 168 points on 141 spikes, 17 blocks and 10 service aces.

Laure trailed Canino by four, 139-143, but overtook the latter after her 29-point explosion on a 45-percent attack efficiency in the UST-La Salle game on April 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Canino had 13 in that contest.

Laure and the Golden Tigresses (7-3) handed the Lady Spikers (9-1) their first defeat of the season at The Big Dome, as the volleybelles from España notched their second straight win, 25-19, 14-25, 25-18, 25-12.

Through 10 games, Laure is also the second leading spiker with a success rate of 37.30 percent (141-of-378), second to NU’s Alyssa Solomon who has 38.51 percent (114-of-296).

Canino is fifth in spiking with a 35.46-percent success rate (139-of-392).

Furthering Laure’s MVP case, she’s also at the top of 10 of the departments where Canino is outside — blocking, serving and digging.

Laure is eighth in blocking (0.46 average by set); 10th in serving (0.27 average by set); and 10th in digging (2.00 average by set).

Canino edged Laure in receiving, though, as she is fifth in the said department with a 37.84-percent efficiency. The latter isn’t in the top 10.

It would be interesting to see how Laure and Canino, and their respective teams by extension, would perform in the homestretch of the elimination round as they continue to make their case for the top individual award.

But they aren’t the only players running for the MVP plum, reigning MVP Belen, Canino’s teammate Jolina de la Cruz and Adamson super rookie Trisha Tubu have their respective good cases as well, especially if they finish strong in the second round.