MANILA, Philippines –Playing in front of a hostile crowd is nothing new to UAAP athletes. In some cases, hearing boos from an opposing team's fans only serve to boost a player, and that is exactly what happened last Saturday to De La Salle University's Desiree Cheng.

Cheng was already fired up to play University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the UAAP Season 79 Final 4, as a victory would give the Lady Spikers a ticket to the Finals.

Her sharp attacks gave the Tigresses fits, and she played a huge role in allowing La Salle to break away from a tight 15-12 count in the opening frame and claim a 23-14 lead instead.

• READ: Lady Spikers march to ninth straight Finals stint

Needing just two points to take a 1-0 lead in the match, Cheng trooped to the service line where she was promptly showered by boos from the UST crowd. Rather than be rattled, Cheng instead showed her poise by unloading two consecutive service aces to hand La Salle the win.

The Lady Spikers went on to secure a 25-14, 25-20, 24-26, 25-13 win to march to a ninth consecutive Finals appearance. Cheng finished the game with 11 points, including three aces.

"Alam naman siguro ng lahat 'yun na part of the game, so okay lang sa akin," Cheng said of the jeers. "Saka sanay naman ako."

"Parang mas na-challenge nga ako sa kanila, at mas naging ganado akong maglaro," she added.

[It's part of the game, and that's okay with me. I'm used to it. In fact, I was challenged by the jeering and that fired me up.]

Cheng is sure to hear more boos and jeers in the Finals, where the Lady Spikers will try to defend their championship against their archrivals, the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.

The open hitter will be ready.

"Gusto naming manalo," she stressed. "Gusto naming kunin ang championship. Magiging more aggressive kami. Mas papatibayin namin kung ano 'yung kulang namin sa skills pa."

[We want to win and we want to get the championship. We'll be more aggressive and improve on our skills.]

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