The DLSU Green Spikers started their UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Round Two campaign with a bang, dominating the number two ranked NU Bulldogs in four sets, 25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 25-17, earlier today, March 23, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Leading the Green Spikers was Player of the Game Eco Adajar who tallied 29 excellent sets with five points. Meanwhile Noel Kampton stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points built on 21 attacks. Also stepping up for La Salle was Vince Maglinao, who contributed 20 points with 17 attacks and three blocks.
Meanwhile, Jade Disquitado spearheaded NU’s efforts, racking up 15 points while Michael Budding and Leo Arringo tallied 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Shifting tides
The early plays witnessed intense exchanges between both teams as they went toe-to-toe in the first set. Kampton made his presence known early in the match after pushing in a strong lefty tip attack to bring DLSU in an early two-point lead, 5-3. However, the Green Spikers failed to heave momentum from the early advantage, conceding four unforced errors to hand NU a 4-0 run and the lead, 7-5. In an attempt to aid the bleed, Adajar set up Kampton for an attack from the pipe, only to be read by the triple wall of NU, forcing DLSU to call a timeout, 9-5. To lift the matchup, Maglinao stepped up for the Green Spikers scattering three points to lead La Salle’s 5-0 run and cut their deficit to one, 11-10. Maglinao scored another killer off the hands of the NU blockers, followed by a solo block for back-to-back points to halt the offensive stances of NU, 12-all.
The momentum Maglinao brought to the team boosted the morale of the boys in green, turning the tides of the match to push a dominant lead, 20-15. The NU Bulldogs ignited a spark late into the match, firing in a strong spike from a scramble at the net to cut the lead to four, 22-18. Rui Ventura’s strong attack then sailed out, allowing NU to inch closer, 22-19. Sensing a shift, NU attempted a comeback, capitalizing on Kampton’s attack error to pull within two, 22-20. But MJ Fortuna halted the run with a crucial spike, 23-20. Rodriguez had a chance to close it out for DLSU, but his serve sailed long, forcing Coach Roque to call a timeout and prevent a comeback. Off the break, DLSU’s Maglinao delivered the final blow with a familiar off the block kill, clinching the first set, 25-22.
Back and forth
DLSU started the second set strong with a powerful spike from Del Pilar, but two quick errors allowed NU to take a 2-1 lead. Ventura responded with a crucial block to push DLSU ahead 3-2, but NU’s Buddin went on a scoring spree, landing two strong attacks and a well-placed drop shot to give NU a 6-4 advantage. Ventura quickly turned the tide with another block and then followed it up with an ace, putting La Salle back on top at 8-6. Both teams struggled with service errors, but DLSU maintained control thanks to key plays from Kampton, until a crucial block from NU’s Taguibolos tied the game at 11-11.
Ventura continued to lead the squad from Taft, keeping the pressure on NU before a 3-0 La Salle run forced the Bulldogs to call timeout at 14-11. NU battled errors but stayed in the fight behind their consistent attacks, while Kampton answered with back-to-back points to keep DLSU ahead at 16-14. The set turned into a duel The set turned into a duel between Kampton and Buddin until NU’s Diao delivered a clutch block, giving NU a 17-16 lead and forcing a DLSU timeout. NU pulled ahead 22-20 behind Disquitado’s drop shots and Buddin’s defensive presence at the net, but La Salle fought back, tying the game at 24-24 with Poquita setting up Rodriguez for a clutch spike. Rodriguez then delivered a massive block to put DLSU at set point, but three straight errors from him handed NU the set, 27-25, leveling the match at one set apiece.
Vengeful Charge
After losing their strong foothold in the second set, the Green Spikers carried a vengeful attitude in the third set. Maglinao showed off early again after delivering the first point of the set with a strong putaway that sailed off of the digging hands of NU. However, the Bulldogs didn’t back down after exchanging points with the Green Spikers early on in the match. An early successful challenge was called by the DLSU Green Spikers contesting an outside pipe attack, placing the set at 5-all. The challenge call was a dealbreaker to bring the momentum on DLSU’s side, as Maglinao delivered a strong block followed by a fierce opposite backrow pouncer from Ventura, 7-5. Ventura continues to make his towering presence felt throughout the set, as he continues to deny the open bids of NU pushing a 4-0 run mid-set that forces NU to call for a timeout, 13-9.
Eco Adajar’s setting prowess was evident in the set as multiple attackers were utilized to bring attacking variety against the Bulldogs. Adajar also contributed in the scoring department, as he fooled NU’s defense with a deceiving second ball drop, 17-15. The Green Spikers also dominated the service line, as Maglinao delivered strong serves late in the match to break the plays of NU and continue the lead. To bring the team to match point, the set witnessed an intense rally that roared the crowd, only to be ended by the effective blocking hands of Ventura, 24-21. Hungry to answer back, the NU Bulldogs delivered a fiery attack that was too much for the court as it sailed out, handing the third set to the bids of Taft, 25-21.
Finishing strong
The Green Spikers set the tone early in the fourth set as Kampton opened with a well-placed drop shot, but the Bulldogs quickly responded with a 3-0 run, capped by a strong block from Diao to take a 3-1 lead. Kampton and Buddin exchanged points in the early rallies, with NU holding a slim 5-4 advantage. Adajar tied the game at 6-6 with a clever drop shot, then Kampton followed up with a service ace to give La Salle back the lead at 7-6. Maglinao then stepped up, extending the lead to 9-6 before striking again at the net to put DLSU ahead 11-7.
Kampton continued his dominant stretch, pushing the lead to 12-7 as NU unraveled with unforced errors, allowing La Salle to break away. With Kampton and Maglinao leading the charge, La Salle built a commanding 17-8 lead punctuated by a monstrous block by Ventura. NU managed a brief rally, going on a 4-1 run led by Diao, but Ventura shut down the momentum with a powerful attack to make it 20-13. NU continued to be plagued by errors down the stretch, as DLSU continued to their steady play, extinguishing any hope for an NU comeback as they closed off the set 25-17 and the match.
Maglinao spoke on the team’s renewed mindset heading into round two, emphasizing how important it is to finish this round strong. “First round namin was a struggle. Sabi ng coaches namin na this is our last round-there’s no more holding back, and if gusto namin ma-achieve yung goal namin, then we have to give it our all”
(Our first round was a struggle. Our coaches told us that this us our last round-there’s no more holding back, and if we want to achieve our goal, we have to give it our all.)
After bouncing back from last game’s loss against FEU, the Green Spikers find themselves back in the winning column and will look to build up a winning streak as they face off against the UST Tigers on March 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
DLSU 3 – Kampton 25, Maglinao 20, Ventura 14, Del Pilar 7, Rodriguez 6, Adajar 5, Fortuna 2, Poquita 0, Hernandez 0
NU 1 – Disquitado 15, Buddin 12, Aringo 10, Diao 5, Taguibolos 5, Ordiales 3, Bandola 1, Gallego 1, Mukaba 1, Ancheta 0, Hernandez 0
Set scores: 25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 25-17
