The DLSU Green Spikers opened their UAAP Season 78 campaign with a victory after slipping past the UE Red Warriors in straight sets, 25-18, 28-26, 26-24, earlier today at the PhilSports Arena. Team captain Raymark Woo, who missed last season with a torn ACL, led the Green Spikers with 19 points on 17 spikes and two serves. Rookie Vince Abrot led UE with 12 points, 11 of which were spikes.
In the marquee match of the day, the DLSU Lady Spikers, who finished as first runners-up in the past two seasons, began their quest for the elusive championship by outlasting the FEU Lady Tamaraws in straight sets, 29-27, 25-23, 25-20, to give Ara Galang a victory almost a year after she suffered torn ligaments on her knee during last season’s Final Four. Mika Reyes was named the Best Scorer of the Game after finishing with 13 points on 12 spikes while Toni Rose Basas led FEU with 13 points on 12 spikes as well.
Overcoming deficits
Arjay Onia scored the game’s first points but DLSU and UE traded points until the first technical timeout with the Red Warriors on top, 8-7. From there, La Salle limited UE to only five points while scoring nine of their own to take a 16-13 lead heading into the second technical timeout of the first set. Ralph Calasin, Woo, and Onia provided the offensive touch while the Green Spikers as a team relied on stingy floor defense to take the first set, 25-18.
UE began to find their groove early in the second set as they raced to a 9-6 lead despite losing Sam Lelic to a gruesome ankle injury. The Red Warriors continued to maintain their lead heading into the second technical timeout, 16-11, but Woo, Calasin, and Onia kept La Salle within striking distance. Cris Dumago tied the game at 25-all and aided DLSU in stealing the second set, 28-26.
The Green Spikers raced to an early 3-0 lead before UE responded off DLSU’s errors to tie the game at seven. La Salle remained ahead heading into both technical timeouts but the Red Warriors slowly crept back and took a slight 22-19 lead in the latter part of the third set. UE got to within set point, 24-22, but Dumago and Woo denied the Red Warriors a chance to take a set as they guided a resilient DLSU squad to take the set, 26-24, and the match.
Woo had a lot of help in this game as Onia and Calasin added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Dumago was one of the pivotal players off the bench as his six points were crucial in putting the Red Warriors away in the latter stages of the match. Ed Camposano was the only other Red Warrior in double figures with 11 points on two blocks and two serves.
UE’s 26 errors were crucial as they kept La Salle in the game especially during the latter stages. DLSU was the stronger team on offense as they scored 60 points as compared to the Red Warriors’ 42.
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Slow and steady
The Lady Spikers struggled early in the first set as they were down by six, 8-2, heading into the first technical timeout. Reyes, Galang, and Kim Fajardo slowly chipped at the FEU lead, igniting a 14-6 run that gave La Salle a 16-14 lead heading into the second technical timeout. FEU had their hands full as Christine Soyud and Mary Joy Baron continued to attack the FEU defense from all ends of the court. In the end, the Lady Spikers edged past the Lady Tamaraws in the first set, 29-27.
DLSU scored the first two points in the second set but they gave up four quick points to let FEU move ahead, 4-2. Cerveza and Soyud kept the Lady Spikers within striking distance though the Lady Tamaraws remained ahead in the first technical timeout of the second set, 8-7. Both teams continued to trade points throughout the set but Reyes, who scored on consecutive possessions late in the second set, brought the Lady Spikers to within match point, 24-22. Galang put the finishing touches on the set after her defense helped give DLSU the second set, 25-23.
The final set saw La Salle race to an early 5-2 lead after Baron, Fajardo, and Galang found holes in the FEU defense. DLSU continued to lead until the second technical timeout of the third set, 16-12, and even though the Lady Tamaraws brought the lead down to two, 19-17, rookie May Luna closed out the game with her energy and her attacks. In the end, it was Luna who also scored DLSU’s winning point on a spike that lifted her morale and that of the team’s this early into the season.
Galang and Cerveza aided Reyes in the victory, as both finished with 10 points each. Baron finished with eight points, while Luna and Soyud had five each. Remy Palma was the only other Lady Tamaraw in double figures with 10 as Bernadeth Pons finished the game with nine points.
The Lady Spikers will return to action this Saturday, February 6, against the UP Lady Maroons, who beat the UE Lady Warriors last Sunday, 25-20, 25-13, 25-21. Both teams will meet at 2 pm in the PhilSports Arena.
Meanwhile, the Green Spikers will take on the NU Bulldogs, who beat Adamson in straight sets, 25-22, 25-22, 25-7, in the earlier game today. Both teams will be gunning for their second consecutive victory on Sunday, February 7, at 10 am in the FilOil Arena.
