The DLSU Green Spikers failed to secure another win in their Round One campaign after a shaky display of volleyball against the daunting claws of the UST Growling Tigers, 21-25, 20-25, 16-25, in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament earlier today, February 26, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Casting the arrows forward were wing hitters Noel Kampton, Michael Fortuna, and Chris Hernandez, delivering six points each. Middle blocker Eric Layug also challenged the Growling Tigers’ offensive stances aiding DLSU with six points of his own.
On the other side of the court, middle blocker Edilyn Colinares dominated the net, securing 17 points, five of which came from killer blocks. He was supported by teammate Jay De La Noche, who delivered 12 massive points, sufficient to clinch the match in three straight sets.
Playing catch up
Nerves disrupted the Green Spikers’ rhythm early on, allowing the Growling Tigers to capitalize on errors and seal the first leg of the match. La Salle initially led by two points after a penetrating hit from Kampton, 3-1. However, unforced errors opened the door for UST to surge ahead with a 4-1 run, leaving the spikers in white shirts trailing by three, 7-4. With steady blocking and clever distribution, the spikers from España were able to push this cushion to five, 15-10.
A mini-run sparked by Hernandez and Fortuna pulled DLSU within one, 16-15, but, a subsequent service error drove UST to regain momentum and forced them to call for time as they went behind by three, 19-16. Although Fortuna responded out of the timeout with a successful hit from the pipe, a quick attack by Colinares allowed the Growling Tigers to set foot in the 20-point marker, 20-17. Another powerful tip from the middle forced the Green Spikers to yet again, regroup, but De La Noche’s hitting prowess proved too much to handle, scoring four more points to claim the set in favor of UST, 25-21.
Bleeding in green
The Green-and-White continued to bleed as they failed to sustain a vengeful morale in the second set. The spikers from Taft started out strong with a series of powerful attacks delivered by Fortuna from the middle and King Spiker Kampton with his signature pipe nailer, 4-all. The astounding power spike of Kampon left the other side of the court struggling as UST suffered multiple errors giving the Spikers a 3-0 run, 6-4. The middle ground was also activated by setter Eco Adajar who connected with Nat Del Pilar for a quick play, forcing the Growling Tigers to call a timeout.
Despite their promising start, the Green Spikers faltered in the latter half of the set with the fortified blockings of UST and a series of unforced errors committed by the Green-and-White. The Growling Tigers had their paws out, blocking Kampton to force a 6-0 run, eventually making it harder for the Green Spikers to trounce back. In a late attempt to turn the tides, La Salle introduced Vince Maglinao off the bench, only to be countered with Alche Gupiteo, whose fierce spikers made it harder for DLSU to make a comeback, 19-15. Gupiteo continued his offensive barrage, bringing UST to set point, before being sealed by an unprecedented Colinares quick attack for the set, 25-20.
Out of position
Riddled with holes, the Green Spikers’ defense could not withstand UST’s heavy serves, conceding the match in a straight-sets loss. The first half of the third set saw eight deadlocks, as wing hitters from both teams furnished needless attacks. Tied at 9-all, Jan Macam’s sharp jump serves, including three aces, pushed this deficit to four, 13-9. The sequence forced Maglinao to bolster La Salle’s defense and halt UST’s seven-to-nothing run, 13-10.
The Growling Tigers extended their advantage to six, courtesy of Gupiteo’s onslaught of spikes and Colinares’ denial on Kampton, 20-14. Despite Kampton shrugging the ball against the Thomasian blockers, two more aces provided by Rey De Vega and Macam brought UST closer to victory, 23-15. Eventually, a well-timed block by the Growling Tigers ended the match with a commanding nine-point deficit, 25-16.
With two losses and one win under their belt, the DLSU Green Spikers are eager to bounce back in their next match against the UP Fighting Maroons on Sunday, March 2, at 9 am at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU 0 – Kampton 6, Fortuna 6, Hernandez 6, Layug 6, Mendoza 2, Maglinao 2, Adajar1, Del Pilar 1, Guerrero 0, Poquita 0, De Castro 0, Ventura 0
UST 3 – Colinares 17, De La Noche 12, Macam 10, Gupiteo 7, De Vega 5, Valera 4, Yambao 2, Sali 2, Avila 0, Alabar 0
Set Scores: 21-25, 20-25, 16-25
