La Salle’s Angel Canino. Photo from UAAP Media.
MANILA — De La Salle Lady Archers star Angel Canino and UE Lady Warriors super rookie Casiey Dongallo had their first-ever UAAP matchup earlier today.
The former led DLSU to a sweep of UE, with the reigning MVP posting 17 points, nine digs, and seven receptions, while the latter ousted 15 markers that came from 12 attacks and three blocks. She also had eight digs and two receptions.
READ: UAAP: Angel Canino shines in La Salle’s drubbing of UE
Angel said that she enjoyed her first time playing against Casiey, saying that they did not overlook Dongallo and UE despite their 1-3 record going into the game.
“It was fun,” she told reporters just before she exited the Mall of Asia Arena. “Nakita namin kung paano siya maglaro. Actually, sobrang natuwa ako kasi nakalaban na po namin siya finally.”
“Yung mindset lang is ayon, yung kagaya ng sinabi ni coach na bigyan yung kalaban ng respeto. Yung kanina, parang ginawa ko lang talaga kung anong magagawa ko inside the court.”
Meanwhile, the former California Academy star bared how she felt about finally playing against Canino and La Salle whom she earlier named as UE’s barometer.
UE’s Casiey Dongallo. Photo from UAAP Media.
“Playing against her, magaling po si ate Angel,” said Dongallo in a separate interview. “Magaling po siya. Nung na-up ko po ‘yung palo ni ate Angel, sabi sa’kin ni Kizzie [Madriaga], ‘Bigat pala ng palo niya.’ Every palo niya po ata, wala kaming nakukuha, ‘di po namin nakukuha eh. Lahat po ‘yun puntos.”
“Nakakatuwa po kasi sila lang yung team na ‘di po namin nakalaro during the preseason, tapos ngayon po nakalaro na namin sila,” she continued.
Unfortunately for Dongallo, however, she had her lowest scoring output in the UAAP so far against La Salle. Still, Casiey, who was averaging 26.0 points entering today’s game day, said that she was proud of how she played against the reigning league champions.
Casiey Dongallo against La Salle’s blockers. Photo from UAAP Media.
“Feeling ko po as a player, para sa’kin mataas pa rin po yung score na nakuha ko kasi ayun nga po yung sabi ko, mahirap talagang makapuntos sa La Salle. Ang tatangkad nila tapos magugulat ka pag tatalon, tatlong blockers na pala, akala mo dalawa [lang].”
“Compared po sa ibang games ko, yes mababa siya pero hindi ko siya tine-take na negative kasi knowing La Salle talaga, malalakas po sila. Kahit sino [sa kanila], malalakas talaga,” she added.
Overall, Dongallo was just proud of how they went up against the Taft hitters.
“Knowing La Salle, they are just a great team talaga. Hindi lang po great team, they also have the height. Lahat po — height, skills — so I’m just happy sa team ko po na nung first set, nakadikit po kami sa kanila when we scored 21 knowing na malalaki po sila.”
“Ang hirap po makakuha ng score sa kanila kasi ‘pag tatalon ka, makikita mo tatlong blocker tapos toreng-tore talaga. Masaya lang kasi nakadikit po kami sa kanila kahit na nung third set, we fell short po,” she ended.
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