A slow start could not kill the momentum the DLSU Green Spikers built since the start of the second round, as they relied on Raymark Woo’s 33 points to stave off the UST Growling Tigers in five sets, 20-25, 25-12, 22-25, 25-22, 15-11, earlier today at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Woo’s game-high 33 points came off 30 big spikes and two blocks. Player of the Game Geuel Asia added eight points off four spikes and three service aces but it was his 35 excellent sets that propelled the Green Spikers to victory. Arjay Onia was the only other DLSU player in double figures, finishing with 13 points.
The Growling Tigers were led by Arnold Bautista and Manuel Medina, who finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Jason Sarabia rounded out the UST double-figure scorers with 10 points.
Even match-up
UST came out of the gate as the more aggressive team, relying on combination plays to get the Green Spikers off their rhythm. Woo poured in six early points in the first set, with his thunderous spikes from the back row finding the holes in the Growling Tiger defense.
Both teams continued to trade points throughout the opening set, with UST holding a 16-15 lead heading into the second technical timeout of the set. The Growling Tigers capitalized on the Green Spikers’ 10 errors in the first set, with serving specialist Kris Guzman giving UST its largest lead in the set, 23-18, on a service ace. A Woo service error brought UST to within set point and though DLSU salvaged a point off a UST positional error, the Growling Tigers quickly ended the set, 25-20.
DLSU was off to races in the second set, as they jumped to an 8-3 lead heading into the first technical timeout of the set. Woo picked up where he left off, leading the Green Spiker offense that took advantage of a lethargic UST floor defense. The rest of the team continued to find their rhythm, as Onia, Levin Dimayuga, and Ralph Calasin contributed to La Salle’s huge run in the set. Asia gave the Green Spikers a double-digit lead, 18-7, further adding to UST’s woes in the second set. They couldn’t consistently establish anything offensively, as two consecutive service errors ended the set in favor of DLSU, 25-12.
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The third set started out in the same way as the first, with both teams trading points and the share of the lead. Though La Salle held an 8-7 lead heading into the set’s first technical timeout, UST would slowly inch away from the Green Spikers after taking a 14-9 lead. Woo and Dimayuga would keep DLSU within striking distance but a Woo service error, La Salle’s ninth in the set, gave the Growling Tigers the set, 25-22.
Green Spikers pull away
With the pressure mounting, both teams continued to trade points in the early parts of the fourth set and in the end, the Green Spikers held a slim 8-6 lead heading into the set’s first technical timeout. La Salle would remain in front for the rest of the set, as Woo, Calasin, and Asia responded to every UST run during the latter parts of the set. Though DLSU and UST would trade service errors late in the set, Woo closed the set, 25-22, with another spike.
Sensing the finish line, La Salle raced to a 6-2 lead behind the efforts of Woo and Dimayuga. The Growling Tigers would make one last run, cutting the DLSU lead to one, 10-9. Onia and Asia would stop the run, responding with offense that would put the Green Spikers on the brink of victory. Fittingly, it was Woo who ended the match, with his spike sealing the set and the match, 15-11.
La Salle’s offense carried them in this game, as their 60 spikes, 10 blocks, and six service aces gave them 76 points as compared to UST’s 68. The Growling Tigers also committed 31 errors to DLSU’s 27. In terms of digs and sets, UST had 39 and 44, respectively, while DLSU finished with 34 digs and 25 sets.
The Green Spikers will only have a few days to recuperate before they head to the PhilSports Arena on Saturday, March 19, when they will take on the Adamson Soaring Falcons at 8 am.
