The Green and Lady Spikers shared contrasting fates to open UAAP Season 75. The squads have opposite places in the team standings as the ladies sport a 2-1 start while their counterparts recorded 1-2 a win-loss slate.
Both squads performed remarkably last season as the Green Spikers made it to the Final Four while the Lady Spikers successfully defended the championship crown.
Green Spikers’ struggle
The Green Spikers opened the season with a heavy blow after suffering a four-set meltdown against UST last December 1 at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
The squad still managed to pull off the second set 25-22 despite falling behind UST, 16-25, in the opening set. Then, UST took the next two sets as the Green Spikers almost forced a deciding fifth set before a, 23-25, fourth set meltdown.
Red Christensen later powered the Green Spikers last December 8 in the win column after leading the team to afour-set triumph against University of the East. The team almost completed a sweep, but the UE Warriors refused to lose in the third set, winning, 25-23. All three sets that went to the Green Spikers were close tallying a 25-23 first set victory, followed by a 26-24 second set, and a 25-22 fourth set.
The spikers from Taft then failed to continue momentum after being swept in three sets by the FEU Tamaraws, which dropped them last year in the semifinals. Despite the loss, which dropped the squad’s record, 1-2, the the Tams did not play an easy game.
Lady Spikers, undefeated no more
After two undefeated seasons where the Lady Spikers won the championship, the squad barged into the loss column early this season. The Defending champion dropped its opening assignment against UST in a five-setter.
The Tigresses took the game away from the Lady Spikers after taking the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-13, respectively. In the third and fourth set, 25-12 and 25-21 respectively, the champion team came alive and did not give the Tigresses the chance to snatch the game easily. Fatigue then became a factor in the deciding and final set as the Lady Spikers failed to hold on and surrendered its first outing of season 75.
With championship calibre players, the Lady Spikers roared back for two straight three-set victories over Adamson and FEU.
Long road ahead
With only thee games down, and 10 more to come for the Green and Lady Spikers, these squads have already shown promise to the Lasallian community.
