Despite their resolve, the DLSU Green Spikers were unable to maintain momentum as they fell prey to the UP Fighting Maroons, 23-25, 19-25, 25-21, 22-25, in their UAAP Men’s Volleyball Tournament, earlier today, February 25, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Issa Ousseini was a force at the net, racking up 14 points by balancing a sharp offense with stifling defense. Meanwhile, Glen Ventura and Uriel Mendoza contributed 13 points each, but they remained insufficient to avert the loss.
On the other side of the net, Olayemi Raheem notched a game-high 29-point performance, while Milven Francisco provided a much-needed firepower by chipping in 11 of his own.
Set-shattering Maroons
Bursting out an early lead, the Lasallians started with a nimble frontline. Spikers Glen Ventura and Joshua Magalaman proved uncontestable as they slipped through the Maroon blockers at the middle and opposite zones of La Salle’s court. Meanwhile, La Salle’s blockers proved dominant as they grounded spike after spike. However, UP found momentum, tightening their deficit as their setter distributed their offense and slipped past the blockers to pounce on the Green Spikers’ neglected backline.
As the Katipunan based-squad reached 13 points, UP was hot on La Salle’s tail, continuing their exploits off of the green backline. Team Captain Raheem was unstoppable as a towering spiker, shutting down rallies with little resistance. Magalaman spearheaded the scoring in quick-witted dunks when faced with defensive pressure. Although both sides featured dominating forces battling for the lead, Raheem sustained his momentum to pull UP ahead.
Consecutive points from UP’s captain rattled La Salle’s composure as his size granted him power and verticality against the defense. La Salle responded with a clinical run, sparked by setter Ezer Regidor, whose distribution evened the score at 19-all. The next rallies grew desperate and enduring as room for error tightened. However, once Raheem reached the backline, Zairus Pacure filled his role at the frontline while Raheem sniped at the gaps. UP would end the set with a 4-0 run, 25-23.
Defensive holes
The Green Spikers opened the second set with a quick 2-0 run, led by Ventura and Ousseini’s powerful, straight spikes that pierced the UP defense. However, the lead would be short-lived, as an unanswered 4-0 Maroon run by Kobe Aca-ac and consistent errors by La Salle plagued the Taft side, 4-2. Both teams would go back and forth with short yet dynamic rallies, mostly ending in block points as the match was even at 8-all midway through the set.
DLSU’s defense was put to the test as the Katipunan-based squad slammed powerful hits, piercing their backline with Abal converting consecutive points with a spike and service ace down the middle. Ousseini and Mendoza provided much-needed boosts to the offense, but it would not be enough to match UP’s counterattacks as they were down 16-13 approaching the final stretch.
For every point the Green Spikers made, the Maroons answered with two more in their stead. La Salle, being too eager to defend the front line, ended up giving up the back line, which resulted in failed receptions that went. UP then went on a devastating 5-0 run. Chris Hernandez attempted to mount a comeback with Ousseini joining the fray, using cross-court hits down the middle. But the Green-and-White would eventually give up the second set through errors and defensive holes, 25-19.
Fate on edge
Gaining the lead early, La Salle squeezed several timeouts from UP throughout the set. The third set proved promising, featuring an explosive push to 25 while the Fighting Maroons were catching their breath; UP insisted on utilizing Raheem, only to realize his winded state. Meanwhile, the Taft-based squad capitalized, igniting a streak. At 12-7, the tides turned as DLSU overexerted itself for the lead. UP mirrored their strategies of covering their main spiker while feeding their most nimble spikers to even the score.
DLSU grew wary of UP’s chance for victory as Raheem’s spikes crumbled the Lasallian defense. The Archers would survive through their offense with crosses by Eugene Gloria meeting little resistance. Ousseini barred any chance UP, matching Raheem’s power and smashing it back to the Fighting Maroons. Securing another fighting chance, Ousseini claimed the set for La Salle with a final smash at 25-21.
Coming up short
The Green Spikers headed into the fourth set with a dire sense of resolve, while the Maroons remained steadfast in adding to their misery. The set opened up with a wide spike from DLSU, with Raheem answering by stuffing the ball with a crosscourt sendaway into the Green-and-White defense. La Salle responded with their very own crosscourt hits to even the playing field, taking advantage of UP’s errors, 5-all.
Midway into the crucial set, both squads fought tooth-and-nail, engaging in back-and-forth battle spurred by errors. Raheem maintained his output, but Ousseini and Ventura upped their gears with smart taps over the defense to elude the blockers and straight spikes to stun the receivers as the set was kept at a stalemate 17-all.
However, as each team were neck-and-neck, the Green-and-White’s resolve eventually wavered with the tide slowly shifting toward UP’s grasp. Raheem continued to deliver plays for UP, while La Salle could not answer back, putting UP ahead for the first time since the opening frame, 21-19. The Maroon captain continued his onslaught with the same, consecutive attacks to widen the Maroons lead, 23-19. Just as DLSU was about to head back into the playing field, the referee called a violation on DLSU due to their rotation, putting UP at match point. Although Gloria and JJ Rodriguez tried to alleviate the gap with their backs against the wall, the comeback would be short lived as the Katipunan-based squad cut down the Green Spikers’ hopes with a block to end the match, 25-22.
The Green Spikers look to change the course of their season as they seek their first victory over rivals ADMU Blue Eagles on Sunday, March 1, at the same venue.
The Scores:
DLSU – Ousseini 14, Mendoza 13, Ventura 13, Gloria 12, Hernandez 5, Magalaman 5, Bangit 2, Rodriguez 2, Regidor 1
UP – Raheem 29, Francisco 11, Robles 9, Pacure 8, Castrodes 7, Aballe 4, Santiago 3, Aca-ac 1
Set Scores: 23-25, 19-25, 25-21, 22-25
