Two matches of the Green-and-White squad in the UAAP Season 74 Men’s Volleyball Tournament did not go as expected.
The Green Spikers started with a 1-1 win and loss record after facing the top and the bottom squads of the previous season.
With a mixed of seasoned veterans and five promising newcomers, last year’s 3rd runner-up have prepared for this season. A Chris Macasaet-less Green Spikers crew will vie for their tenth semis appearance this season, without the services of Mark Emilio Lee and playmaker Samuel Lubi.
Returnees Philip Cerveza and Carlo Rivera primed by newfangled team captain Myco Antonio will pad the ceiling dent left by the graduates.
Outside hitter Kevin De La Vega slid to Libero’s position alongside Season 71 Best Receiver Renz Casanova for a tighter floor defense. DLSU sister-schools stand outs Bub Sumalinog, Carlo Sendo and Lorenzo Señoren also made the cut of this year’s roster.
In the opening day, the Sammy Acaylar-mentored squad was pitted early on to last years’ silver medalist, the FEU Tamarraws.
The Morayta-based squad appeared just too much for the Green Spikers as they hacked out a 16-25, 25-17, 23-25, 16-25 victory last Nov. 16.
The Taft-based squad, however, recovered from the debut loss by subduing the UE Red Warriors last November 30 via straight sets.
Antonio-Christensen tandem punish UE in straight sets
After 61 minutes of heated volleyball action, the Green Spikers came out of the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym with their first win of the season.
Former UAAP Rookie of the Year Myco Antonio together with sophomore Red Christensen led the Green Spikers’ assault against the University of the East.
The Taft-based squad barged into the win column after bullying the Red-and-White, 25-19, 25-16, 25-14 behind the 20-point combined production of the Antonio-Christensen southpaw duo.
2011 National Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship MVP Antonio poured in seven attack points with three block inputs while Siena College product Christensen scored 9-out of his 10 points from offense.
No Spiker from the other side finished with double-digits; only Red Warriors Angelo Torres and Gary Bantolino were able to chip in seven markers.
Piled up by the Tams in opener
In four-setter game, Rodolfo Labrador won 21 points, and spearheaded the Tamarraws to be the first team in Season 74 who banked into the win column.
Despite heroics from Christensen who scored 11 spikes and three blocks, the Green Spikers left the San Juan Arena with their heads facing the floor last November 26.
The 24-time UAAP Men’s Volleyball Champion FEU Tamarraws eradicated the second set rally of the Green Spikers to finish the contest in four sets, 16-25, 25-17, 23-25, 16-2.
