Green and Lady Spikers: Reaching the golden pitch

With the second half of the 75th UAAP season fast approaching, no other sport draws more attention than volleyball.

Coming off a championship run, a win against the University of St. La Salle Lady Stingers from the recently concluded UniGames in Bacolod City, the DLSU Lady Spikers has set the team’s eyes on a third straight UAAP championship.

The team’s male counterpart, the Green Spikers, is looking to end a nine-year championship drought after a fourth place finish last season.

Gearing up for the season

Coach Ramil De Jesus is relying on his senior players, Michelle Gumabao and Abi Maraño, to take the leadership role after Team Captain Cha Cruz’s graduation.

“Malaki ang difference kasi nawalan kami ng leader at kailangan talaga ng adjustment kasi ngayon dalawang seniors, sina [Michelle] Gumabao at [Abi] Maraño, sila yung mga tumatayong leader,” he said.

Though the team still has veterans and established players on the roster, the Lady Spikers still has unchecked weaknesses and room to improve this year’s volleyball season has dealt a tougher challenge than the past two seasons. Moreover, the team’s lack of relative depth may come back to haunt its players in the fast approaching games.

“Yung strength ng team nandoon pa rin sa service. Although complete ang lineup, hindi ganoon kalalim ang bench namin. Hindi katulad last year na malalalim yung team, marami akong naiikot na players,” said De Jesus.

With a shorter depth chart for the team, sophomore players Mika Reyes, and Ara Galang will have to raise their game to maintain the Lady Spikers’ championship form.

The team’s male counterpart, the Green Spikers, will bank on Captain John Kevin De La Vega and UAAP Season 72 Rookie of the Year Myco Antonio to bag the championship.

The Green Spikers took part in several off-season tournaments to prepare for this season’s grind. The team won the 12th Friendship Solidarity Cup and De La Vega won MVP honors while the squad came in at first runner-up in the 2012 National Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship where Philip Cerveza was named Best Server, and Renz Casanova received the Best Libero honors.

In assessing his team’s strengths and weaknesses, Acaylar pointed out, “Physical conditions, jumping ability, [and] set plays. Those are strong points [of the team], but their weaknesses are more on [the] psychological [aspect] and more on [the display [of] heart. I prepared many tune up games [for the team] so that they will develop their toughness.”

Tough rivals on the run

The road to the championship will not be easy for both squads, as their rival schools have revamped their rosters with hopes of a successful championship bid.

“Last year kasi medyo okay ‘yung lineup ng FEU at ganoon din ‘yung Adamson. So ngayon, yung magbibigay ng malaking challenge sa amin is yung NU team dahil taller and marami silang recruits. Definitly yung Ateneo rin kasi most of them are veterans,” said De Jesus

Despite their rivals’ improvements, the La Salle community should expect nothing less than a championship as De Jesus said, “Ganoon pa rin katas ‘yung expectations ko sa kanila. Pinakatest naming ang UniGames so may mga magagandang results at mayroong ding pangit na nakita namin. Hopefully maayos pa.”

The Green Spikers will have an even tougher road as defending champion FEU looks for a repeat of last season, banking on championship experience. Aside from the Morayata-based squad, both NU and UST also pose tough challenges with their athletic and veteran-laden rosters.

The daunting task at hand has not intimidated Acaylar and his wards as he has set the bar for his team, expecting nothing short of a championship.

Championship expectations

Expectations are high for both squads as they look to make season 75 a historic one for La Salle.

The Lady Spikers will look for a third straight championship while the Green Spikers will look to end its title drought.

It has been nine seasons since the men’s volleyball championship belonged to the squad from Taft Avenue and coincidentally, the Lady Spikers bagged a championship that year that was to be the first of three consecutive successful bids.