Push Admin

UAAP: La Salle's Cheng talks the talk, walks the walk against UST

Article (news)

Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/03/31/20190331-dlsu.jpg"/><figcaption>De La Salle captain Desiree Cheng had 20 points against UST. <em>Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/basketball/photos" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports</a></em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA, Philippines -- De La Salle University captain Desiree Cheng has never been shy about making her feelings known inside the court -- especially when it comes to celebrating a particularly important point for the Lady Spikers.</p><p>She was her usual exuberant self on Sunday, when the defending UAAP champions took on University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the second round of Season 81. The Lady Spikers were out for revenge, having lost to the Golden Tigresses in straight sets in the first round.</p><p>Things did not go her way in the first round as Cheng was soundly denied by UST&#x27;s Kacey Galdones to end the first set, which UST won 25-21. But the La Salle veteran had the last laugh, as Cheng powered the Lady Spikers to victory in the next three frames while scoring a career-best 20 points.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="tl">Des Cheng and Sisi Rondina trade hits 👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UAAPSeason81Volleyball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UAAPSeason81Volleyball</a> <a href="https://t.co/60611o9JwE">pic.twitter.com/60611o9JwE</a></p>— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/abscbnsports/status/1112305066520838145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>All throughout, Cheng kept playing with her trademark flair -- wagging her fingers after a block, pointing to the UST court after a point, and firing up the La Salle crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena -- while also seemingly riling up the España faithful.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">🗣 Des Cheng wants to hear you, DLSU! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UAAPSeason81Volleyball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UAAPSeason81Volleyball</a> <a href="https://t.co/xM2qnTb70s">pic.twitter.com/xM2qnTb70s</a></p>— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) <a href="https://twitter.com/abscbnsports/status/1112304829127225344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2019</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>&quot;Siguro, mas gusto lang namin manalo today,&quot; Cheng said after La Salle&#x27;s 21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 26-24 triumph where she had 14 kills, 3 blocks, and 3 aces.</p><p>&quot;Mas gusto namin na gumanda &#x27;yung kung nasaan kami ngayon, &#x27;yung standing namin,&quot; she explained. &quot;Naglaro kami as one team, kaya ganoon &#x27;yung naging result.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2019/03/31/uaap-season-81-lady-spikers-tigresses-solo-second-55239">READ: Lady Spikers down Tigresses for solo second</a></li></ul><p>Cheng only had 7 points when the Lady Spikers bowed to the Golden Tigresses in round 1, so the veteran open spiker was determined to make up for her subpar performance. </p><p>&quot;Kailangan namin bumawi,&quot; she said. &quot;And &#x27;yung bawi na hindi lang puro salita, kung &#x27;di &#x27;yung bawi na may gawa.&quot;</p><p>Cheng was as good as her word, and the Lady Spikers clearly took their cue from their team captain. When the final whistle blew at the MOA Arena, the defending champions had improved their record to 7-3, and seized sole ownership of the second place in the league standings.</p><p>&quot;Obviously, it&#x27;s very important right now kasi &#x27;pag natalo kami ngayon parang magkakaroon ng maraming tie, and then mahihirapan pa kaming bumangon again from a loss,&quot; said Cheng.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan namin maging consistent na. Ganito na &#x27;yung gagalawin namin all throughout,&quot; she also said. &quot;Feeling ko kasi habang tumatagal mas lumalakas &#x27;yung mga teams, so kahit na ganoon na nothing to lose na &#x27;yung ibang teams, kailangan pa rin naming respetuhin sila.&quot;</p><p>Cheng and the Lady Spikers return to action on April 7 against Adamson University.</p><p>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</p>

<p>The Lady Spikers were out for revenge, having lost to the Golden Tigresses in straight sets in the first round.</p>

The Lady Spikers were out for revenge, having lost to the Golden Tigresses in straight sets in the first round.

UAAP: La Salle's Cheng talks the talk, walks the walk against UST

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

UAAP: La Salle's Cheng talks the talk, walks the walk against UST

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 31, 2019 10:41 PM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

volleyball

De La Salle Lady Spikers

UST Growling Tigresses Desiree Cheng

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.