With their last win over the FEU Tamaraws dating back to Game Two of the 2024 V-League Finals, the DLSU Green Spikers once again faltered against their familiar rivals in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, 26-24, 23-25, 19-25, 20-25, earlier today, May 3, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Noel Kampton lifted the Green Spikers in this do-or-die match, dropping 19 points from 17 attacks and two blocks. Also charging the team was Rui Ventura, who contributed 17 points in their eventual final match of the season.
On the opposite side, Mikko Espartero spearheaded the Tamaraws, delivering 17 points all from explosive attacks in their matchup against La Salle. Alongside him were double-digit scorers Doula Ndongala and Lirick Mendoza, who registered 17 and 14 markers, respectively.
Winning ways
Much like both elimination rounds of the UAAP Season 87, the Green Spikers managed to sneak the first set from the mighty Tamaraws, and the Final Four was no exception to that pattern. However, the Green Spikers did not start strongly as expected, being down by three after an off-the-block from Ventura was countered with a loaded crosscourt attack from standout rookie Espartero, 6-3. The Green-and-White started to pick up the pace after the first timeout, unleashing a 3-0 blitz made up of back-to-back attacks from veteran Kampton and a lucky point from Guerrero, bringing the teams to even footing, 9-all. Despite their efforts to stay within the proximity of the Green-and-Gold, an error-plagued La Salle fell behind once again. Three attack errors and a service error haunted La Salle, forcing the team to call a timeout in hopes of regrouping, 14-10.
The short break proved to be effective for DLSU, with Ventura immediately scoring two consecutive points from an off-speed attack and a block, 14-12. The Morayta-based squad remained unfazed, holding onto their lead as Bituin sent a flameshot straight to the other side of the court, 18-15. FEU’s comfortable cushion quickly disappeared as Kampton went down right in the middle, followed by two costly mistakes that eventually led to the third deadlock of the first set, 18-all. Though a tight ball slipped past Vince Maglinao, the Green Spikers immediately reshifted their focus as Eric Layug snapped a quick to bring them closer to a first-set comeback, 23-21. The solid Tamaraws refused to back down easily, tying and extending the set when Maglinao registered his second point on a very crucial moment through an off-the-block, which later on progressed into a decisive set win, 26-24.
Tug-of-war battle
After an emphatic performance in the opening set, the Green Spikers could not duplicate their victory in set two as the Tamaraws’ attacks were too strong, and errors piled up for the green shirts. La Salle was trailing by five after their wing attacks were blocked and could not find a solution for Bituin and Espatero, forcing Head Coach Jose Roque to call for a timeout, 5-0. The Lasallians answered their coach’s call for change, bringing them to striking distance as they improved their attacks and blocking, 12-9. Despite errors, Eco Adajar made sure to keep his teammates in form as La Salle cut the lead to one, forcing FEU to call a timeout, 17-16.
After the timeout, Layug and Kampton led a 4-0 run to take the lead as they both tallied a block and an attack point each, 20-19. However, the Lasallians would be brought back to reality as FEU immediately erased the lead by exploiting the gaps in the DLSU defense. Consequently, La Salle was forced to call a timeout as the set point approached, 22-20. Despite late attempts by Layug and Del Pilar to force an extended set, Bituin and Ndongala capped off the second set with powerful attack points to level the game, 25-23.
Breaking point
With both teams tied with one set each, snatching the third set would be pivotal in taking control of the match. Hungry for that set advantage and finals ticket, the Tamaraws opened up with back-to-back kills with a fired-up Ndongala and a blazing Espartero, giving them an early 2-0 lead. DLSU proved they wanted this set just as much as FEU did, delivering a 4-0 run capped off with a flawless dunk from Del Pilar to put them ahead, 5-3. It remained a tight fight until the two teams went into the first timeout, wherein an off-speed attack from Chris Hernandez allowed the Green Spikers to sit on a fragile lead, 8-7. The Taft-based squad started to pull away on the double-digit mark after efforts from the attackers built up a 4-0 scoring frenzy, allowing them to be in the lead for the first time in this part of a set, 13-9.
The Green Spikers shifted from holding on to their lead to breaking deadlocks, but the Tamaraws continued to keep up. After the 15-all mark, Dryx Saavedra came alive in the third set, lodging an off-the-block hit to spark a scoring run that turned the tables in their favor, 18-15. With FEU gaining momentum, Kampton attempted to lift La Salle back up with back-to-back attack points, 22-19. But it was not enough to close the gap, especially after FEU scored off the block and capitalized on two crucial La Salle attack errors to clinch the set, 25-19.
End of the line
Determined to stay alive, La Salle started the fourth set strong, grabbing a three-point lead with their precise attacks and blocks, 4-1. However, the Green Spikers’ advantage was immediately neutralized after Espantero and Ndongala pulled the Morayta-based squad back in level terms with La Salle, 5-all. The two sides continued to trade points, finding ways to put their attacks on the ground despite tight blocking and floor defense from both sides, 13-all.
The wing hitters kept La Salle close to the Tamaraws as they remained unfazed by the gold shirts’ defense, 17-all. However, the Green Spikers struggled to get out of the 17-point mark, while FEU went on a 5-0 run to raise worries in the Lasallian crowd. Ventura and Hernandez’s attacks went out, while Saavedra took charge on the offensive end for FEU, 22-17. A DLSU timeout and the insertion that brought Maglinao back in the game gave a glimmer of hope for the Taft-based squad as JJ Rodriguez and Adajar got on the scoresheet. However, La Salle’s rally came too late as Mendoza’s attack sealed the win for the Tamaraws. That final blow ended the match and crushed the Green Spikers’ campaign, 25-20.
After the game, Coach Roque applauded his squad for maintaining their standards despite key losses last year. He also hopes that they will continue their momentum for next season, “Proud ako dahil losing some of our players last year, na-maintain namin ‘yung place namin ngayon. Nag-hohope rin naman kami na mai-angat namin ‘yung rank namin this season, [pero] medyo kinapos. We’re looking forward for next season. We’ll try our best to get there.”
(I am proud since despite losing some of our players last year, we maintained our place this season. We were hoping to rise through the ranks, but we came a little short. We’re looking forward for next season. We’ll try our best to get there.)
For the graduating Maglinao, he wants to serve as an inspiration for his teammates and wishes them the best in future seasons, “For my teammates, dream big kasi kapag may pangarap ka, gagawin mo ‘yung lahat. And to take care of yourself kasi it’s very important na you’re healthy physically, mentally, [and] emotionally. Kailangan every game always 101 percent. For my teammates na maiiwan ko, siguro I have taught everything na kaya kong maturo sa kanila and next season it’s their time.)”
(For my teammates, dream big because if you have a dream, you will do everything for it. And take care of yourself since it’s very important that you’re healthy physically, mentally, [and] emotionally. You should always be ready to give your 101 percent every game. For my teammates that I will leave, I have taught everything that I can so next season, it’s their time.)
For Kampton, gratitude is all he can say for his coaches as he closes his UAAP career, “First of all, thank you kasi hindi kami makikilala sa UAAP kung hindi dahil sa mga coaches namin.” He adds that he is proud of what he and his fellow seniors have left in the Green Spikers and hopes for a better comeback for his teammates, “Siguro ‘yung legacy na maiiwan namin, ‘yung winning culture sa La Salle. Ibabalik sa Taft na lagi na sa Final Four palagi kasi matagal din nawala, so who knows maybe next season baka mag-ibang istorya na kasi may mga rookies na kami na papasok.”
(First of all, thank you to our coaches since we would not be known in the UAAP if it was not for them.)
(The legacy that we will leave is the winning culture in La Salle. We can bring back to Taft that we are always in the Final Four since there was a time that it was not the case, so who knows maybe next season, it will be a different story with the rookies coming in.)
After this loss, the Green Spikers endured a Final Four exit for the third year in a row. They will be looking to bounce back next season despite key losses of graduating players such as Kampton, Guerrero, and Maglinao.
The Scores:
DLSU 1 – Kampton 19, Ventura 17, Layug 9, Del Pilar 7, Hernandez 4, Adajar 3, Malinao 3, Mendoza 1, Guerrero 1, Rodriguez 1, Poquita 0
FEU 3 – Ndongala 17, Tandoc 17, Mendoza 14, Saavedra 11, Bituin 11, Cacao 1, Ceballos 0, Talisayan 0, Absin 0
Set Scores: 26-24, 23-25, 19-25, 20-25
