The DLSU Green Spikers breezed through the UE Red Warriors in four sets, 23-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 in the first ever UAAP volleyball game held at the Mall of Asia Arena last February 9, 2013.
Red Christensen led the Taft-based squad with 20 points, 4 of which from blocks while Team Captain Philip Cerveza added 18 markers.
The win gives La Salle a 7-5 record in the standings good for fourth place.
Green Spikers Head Coach Sam Acaylar explained, “Well, as I said before, we had a good game before, but now I don’t know how to explain why they played with so many lapses, but then maybe one factor is the new court.”
On the other side of the court, UE Captain Angelone Soria led his team with 15 points while Homer Lauresta added 14.
Finishing touches
After struggling to establish momentum in the first set, the Green Spikers made a comeback in the next three sets.
Entering into the second set, Cerveza and Myco Antonio went into attack mode. The duo helped the team establish a, 20-13, lead and concluded the game with four consecutive spikes to ice the second set for good.
UE did not give up without a fight in the third set, but La Salle managed to keep up. The Green Spikers also capitalized on the opposition’s errors to deliver the third set win.
Acaylar commented, “Number one is out of focus sila. Parang nabigla sila na ito ang court kung saan kami maglalaro. I told my players to focus, and to play with the right perspective, but still hindi sila nakarecover doon sa first set. Sa second set lang sila nakarecover hanggang sa fourth set.”
Momentum surge
The team clicked on all cylinders in the fourth set.
Led by the aggressive attacks from Cerveza and Christensen, La Salle raced to an early 12-7 lead, which pressured the Recto-based squad. The team then denied a late rally as rookie Raymark Woo sealed the deal after successfully throwing down a drop shot for the match point.
Acaylar added, “I told them that they have to enjoy the game; they have to contribute; they have to play as a team; and [they must] never mind the audience and everything so [that they must] focus on the game only.”
Moving on
The Green Spikers will face the Ateneo Blue Spikers this coming February 13 at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
“It’s La Salle versus Ateneo again, we must win that game,” Acaylar concluded.
