UAAP: Green Spikers fall to UE, set to face AdU in do-or-die

The DLSU Green Spikers bowed down to the lowly UE Red Warriors in four sets, 25-23, 25-15, 25-21, 25-22, at the San Juan Arena as they missed the chance to  book a ticket to the Final Four.

UE team captain Ace Mandani dropped 13 points for the Red Warriors to lead their stunning upset over DLSU which also doubled as their first win of the season. Lester Sawal and Angel Soria added 11 apiece for UE.

On DLSU’s side, Raymark Woo posted a game-high 16 points, while reigning co-MVP Red Christensen contributed 14 points, all from spikes, in a losing effort. The loss ended La Salle’s four-game winning streak as UE pounced on DLSU’s crucial mishaps and forced 31 points off errors.

Still winless coming into the game, the Red Warriors played inspired volleyball. They snatched the first set, 25-23, behind the efforts of Mandani and Soria who delivered timely scores off attacks and blocks.

The second set saw the Green Spikers surge ahead for an early 8-2 lead, mostly from errors by UE. However, the resilient Red Warriors cut down the lead to three, 14-11, led by the tandem of Mandani and Sawal. La Salle then put on a dominant 11-3 run that ended the set, with the final score coming from a service error by Red Warrior Adrian Caluya.

A poor performance from the Green Spikers early in the third set gave UE a 14-6 advantage as La Salle committed error after error. The gap, however, was bridged at 19 as the trio of Christensen,  Woo and Mike Frey ignited an energetic rally, but the spark came a little too late with the Red Warriors capitalizing on the miscues of La Salle down the stretch, resulting to a 2-1 set lead.

With UE smelling blood, they looked eager to deliver the final blow on the reeling Green Spikers. Sawal and Mandani spearheaded the Red Warriors’ attack, helping their team build a 14-7 spread. La Salle would later tie the game at 19, similar to the previous set, led by the same trio as well, but again they came out short as they were unable to cut down on the errors that haunted them in the match.

The loss forces the Green Spikers into a playoff against the AdU Soaring Falcons for the last spot in the Final Four set on Wednesday, February 19.