Earlier today, the DLSU Green Spikers ended their losing streak as they breezed through the pesky UE Red Warriors in five sets at the FilOil Flying V Centre, 25-14, 25-10, 23-25, 22-25, 15-12. With the win, the Green Spikers now hold a 2-4 win-loss record.
Green Spiker team captain Chris Dumago was dominant on both ends with 17 points on 13 attacks, three blocks, and a service ace. Meanwhile, Clifford Inoferio delivered 16 points on 16 attacks to help the losing cause of the Red Warriors.
Rookie setter Paul Serrano was fielded in as veteran Wayne Marco was missing in today’s matchup. Head coach Arnold Laniog shared that Marco had “personal reasons sa family kaya wala siya nung Thursday-Friday sa training.”
(He had personal reasons with his family he had to attend to that’s why he wasn’t present during our Thursday and Friday training.)
Everything going right
The first set showcased the amount of firepower that the Green Spikers had in their arsenal. Kieffer Reyes attacked from all corners of the court to give DLSU the six-point lead early in the set, 11-5. Red Warrior Al-jhon Abalon tried to bring his team’s momentum up through his attacks, but failed to do so as rookie Billie Anima powered through the blockers to give the team from Taft the first set, 25-14.
Wanting to replicate what happened in the first set, the Green Spikers started hot with the help of the duo of Gerraint Bacon and JD Delos Reyes, who attacked alternately to push La Salle to the first technical timeout, 8-5. Geric Ortega was the lone bright spot from the UE squad, as everyone failed to deliver a point due to the heavy defense of the Green Spikers both on the net and on the floor. An attack error coming from UE ended the set, 25-10, to up DLSU two sets to none.
Going downhill
The Red Warriors did not go down without a fight. The momentum slowly shifted to the side of the Red Warriors as Inoferio came alive early in the third set to challenge the defenders of DLSU. Meanwhile, the team from Taft piled up errors in the most crucial part of the game, ultimately, giving the set to the Red Warriors, 25-23.
“Third and fourth set parang nag-relax kami kasi nanalo na kami ng dalawang set tapos ni-remind ko nalang sila na ‘wag tayo mag–relax,’” team captain Dumago shared.
(It’s like we relaxed in the third and fourth set because we won two sets already. I just reminded them, ‘Let’s not relax.’)
The fourth set tested the Green Spikers’ focus as the momentum shifted on the side of the Red Warriors. Inoferio found help in Ortega and their team captain Noel Alba to power through the DLSU Green Spikers. Meanwhile, rookie Anima showed no fear as he relentlessly attacked the blockers of the Red Warriors, pushing his team closer to UE. However, a miscommunication error from the side of the Green Spikers finished and gave the set to the Red Warriors, 25-22.
Both teams were active in the fifth set, converting each attack. However, luck wasn’t on the side of the Red Warriors as they committed multiple errors toward the endgame. The match ended with an error coming from the side of UE, giving the game to DLSU, 15-13.
“Nung fifth set buti nagkaroon ng lucky break,” coach Laniog shared.
(In the fifth set, it’s good a lucky break happened.)
The Green Spikers will look to continue their winning streak as they go against the FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, March 16, at 10 am at the same venue.
The scores:
DLSU (110) – Dumago 17, Anima 16, Reyes 14, Bacon 13, Delos Reyes 9, Serrano 3, Aquino 1, Llige 0, Balanong 0, Macaspac 0, Sumalinog 0
UE (87) – Inoferio 16, Ortega 12, Alba 10, Abalon 8, Cacayan 4, Imperial A. 3, Josafat 1, Reyes 1, Bonoan 0, Imperial R. 0, Ernacio 0, Medina 0, Solis 0
