La Salle’s Shevana Laput ‘honored’ to gain coach Noel Orcullo’s trust
MANILA, Philippines—Shevana Laput showed up when it mattered most for La Salle in the Shakey’s Super League National Invitationals semifinals on Friday at San Juan Arena.
Laput, who recorded 23 points in the Lady Archers’ thriller against University of Santo Tomas, said she was honored to be given the trust of the team, especially in the endgame.
However, Laput knows that the same trust is not something given but something earned.
“It’s an honor but it just shows that even though there’s that trust, it doesn’t mean it’s given. I still have to work really hard for that position,” said the young middle blocker.
“For all of us, we wanted this more, we needed this more and we wanted the finals more. We are defending champions so we need to play with pride.”
Laput has shown consistency for La Salle in the preseason tournament. She was also the team’s most vital factor in zooming past the quarterfinals against Jose Maria College Foundations on Wednesday with 16 points.
Despite being given a bigger role with UAAPP Season 86 looming, Laput has also been attentive to what’s been going on inside the teraflex for the defending UAAP champions.
Without key cogs Mars Alba and Jolina Dela Cruz, the Lady Archers have a hole in the leadership position and Laput may slowly fill that void.
After all, it was Laput who observed the team’s lack of communication in a highly-competed affair with their Final Four rivals, the Golden Tigresses.
“It (the win) just showed that we really need to improve together as a team and form more connections with each other. It took ‘puso.’”
Laput and the Lady Archers moved two wins away from claiming the Shakey’s Super League crown and their voyage continues on Wednesday when they face Adamson in a best-of-three finals series.