Earlier today, the DLSU Green Spikers clinched their first win of the season after playing against the UP Fighting Maroons in a straight-set match, 25-23, 25-19, 25-21, at the FilOil Flying V Centre. The win earned them a 1-2 win-loss record in the UAAP Season 79 Men’s Volleyball Tournament.
Green Spikers head coach Nes Pamilar was pleased with the results. He said that the key to their victory was the teamwork his players displayed on the court. “Kahapon, hindi kami masyado nagpractice. Nag-usap na lang kami,” he shared. “Pagpasok nila [kanina], ibang-iba sila. Iba yung galaw nila.”
Raymark Woo led DLSU to victory with 18 points solely from attacks, while fellow Green Spikers Rafael Del Pilar, Cris Dumago, and Arjay Onia scored nine points each. On the other hand, the Fighting Maroons were spearheaded by Alfred Valbuena with 17 points on 14 attacks, two aces, and a block. Meanwhile, John Mark Castillo and John Mark Millete chipped in eight points apiece.
The first set saw the two opposing teams engage in a close match. At 13-12, however, the Green Spikers broke away with a 6-1 run that started with Woo’s tip from the back and blocks from Dumago and Onia. This gave DLSU the lead at 19-13. UP answered with a 4-1 run, fueled by Valbuena who came alive to earn his team three points off the run. The Fighting Maroons followed up with another 5-1 run to take the lead, 22-21. However, DLSU immediately fought back with three consecutive points. Two points came from Del Pilar as La Salle retook a 24-22 lead. An attack from Woo brought the set to La Salle at 25-23.
La Salle immediately took the lead at the start of second set with attacks from Onia and Woo, 2-0. While the Green Spikers maintained their lead throughout the set, the Fighting Maroons came close to reaching a break point at 16-15, in favor of DLSU. However, a 7-1 run was started by La Salle to further widen the gap, bringing the scores to 23-16. DLSU eventually finished the set at 25-19.
Similar to the previous set, the Green Spikers found themselves in the lead at the start of the third set, 5-2. The Fighting Maroons tried to close the gap, but failed on multiple occasions as the two teams rallied it out. Late into the set, attacks from Green Spikers Del Pilar, Joshua Jose, and Dumago, plus a UP error, gave DLSU a comfortable four-point advantage, 23-19. An attack from Woo eventually gave DLSU the set and match at 25-21.
In terms of team stats, La Salle was ahead with 45 attacks, five blocks, and 20 unforced errors against UP’s 38 attacks, three blocks, and 24 errors. On the other hand, the Fighting Maroons had two service aces against DLSU’s lone ace. The Green Spikers will face the NU Bulldogs this Sunday, February 19, at 10 am in the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 75- Woo 18, Del Pilar 9, Dumago 9, Onia 9, Jose 4, Bacon 2
UP 63- Valbuena 17, Castillo 8, Millete 8, Miguel 7, Trinidad 1, Acuna 1, San Pascual 1
