The DLSU Green Spikers notched a second consecutive victory, defeating the AdU Soaring Falcons, 25-20, 25-15, 24-26, 25-22, earlier today at the FilOil Flying V Centre. The win equalizes the team’s standing, pushing La Salle to a 3-3 win-loss card near the midpoint of the season.
Arjay Onia led La Salle with 22 points off of 22 spikes while Paolo Pablico bannered AdU with 16 points on 14 attacks and two blocks.
Starting off strong
It was a tight matchup from the get-go as La Salle headed into the first technical timeout of the first set with a slim 8-7 lead. Afterwards, with both teams tied at 10-all, a kill by Cris Dumago and two blocks by Delos Reyes gave DLSU a three-point lead.
Although the Green Spikers were more aggressive offensively, it also caused problems for the team as multiple errors, mostly unforced, allowed the Soaring Falcons to keep the game close. AdU, however, just wasn’t able to keep up as La Salle ran away with the first set, 25-20.
Delos Reyes started the second set with back-to-back blocks, giving La Salle an early advantage. This was followed by a three-point run, courtesy of another block by Delos Reyes and two unforced errors by AdU, which extended the lead to four points.
The Green-and-White would maintain the lead as a result of Woo, who finished with 19 points, leading the way by notching seven attack points in the second.
Sealing off the win
With their backs against the wall, trailing two sets to none, AdU fought back to force a fourth set. Their woes did not cease as the Green Spikers continued to commit fatal errors, opening the third set with two.
The tight matchup ensued, but La Salle neared match-point as three kills from Onia capped off a 5-1 run for the Spikers. This was negated, however, as a crucial service error from Dumago, which led to four more points from AdU, allowed a fourth set.
The fourth set began with both teams scoring back-and-forth. The Soaring Falcons would gain an early advantage over the Green Spikers after the first technical timeout, however, when Onia and Dumago committed three consecutive attacking errors. DLSU would not give up, though, as it remained within striking distance before the second technical timeout.
Following the intermission, La Salle would take the lead behind a five-point run which was caused by three unintentional mistakes by AdU. Dumago would claim the match point, 25-22, after his spike kill.
The scores:
DLSU 99 – Onia 22, Woo 19, Dumago 16, Delis Reyes 11, Reyes 7, Maravilla 4, Marco 3
AdU 83 – Pablico 16, Yude 13, Bello 9, Miranda 6, Alvarez 4, Amburgo 2, Labang 2, Jimenez 1
