The DLSU Green Spikers have finally notched their first win of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, conquering the UE Red Warriors in four sets, 27-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-17, earlier today, March 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Chris Hernandez spearheaded the overdue victory and was hailed Player of the Game, serving as the focal point for the Green Spikers with 17 attack points. The dynamic duo of Eugene Gloria and Issa Ousseini also fueled the offensive barrage to conquer the Recto-based squad, firing off 15 points apiece.
On the other side of the net was Raquim Aceron, who notched 30 points for the Red Warriors, supplemented by Cjay Nabora contributing 11 in the losing effort.
Entering the zone
The Green-and-White were instantly overwhelmed by the Red Warriors’ court presence who capitalized on the green shirts’ offensive lapses, helping them gain control of the opening set, 3-0. DLSU swiftly responded with a 3-0 run of their own, also taking advantage of attack errors to tie the match, 5-all. After an intense two-way tussle, both teams struggled to power through. To compensate, Nabora launched a super spike to plow through the Lasallian defense and even the score at 7-all. Ousseini and Hernandez’s ferocity was shown in full force, recording a 3-1 run through a combination play and a cross shot to bolster their offensive firepower, lighting up the crowd leading off into the technical timeout, 13-10.
Fresh off the break, the Recto-based squad made La Salle pay by triggering a 7-1 run with Joshua Villanueva and Aceron taking the wheel, leaving the DLSU side of the arena stunned, 18-14. Looking to set the record straight, Ousseini launched a service ace to put the Green Spikers back on track followed by strong showings from the DLSU trifecta of Glen Ventura, Gloria, and Eric Layug, including Gloria’s strike from the heavens that tied the game, 21-all. Despite Aceron’s onslaught in another intense late frame deadlock, Ousseini unleashed a jump service ace to seal the first set for the Green-and-White, 27-25.
Second wind
Seeking to capitalize on the momentum after clinching the opening frame, the Green Spikers’ aggression came to a halt as offensive misfires landed left and right. Despite Ousseini racking up another heroic all-around performance on the court, UE shattered the defense with a clean slide from Joseph Bicar, sparking another 5-1 run where they exploited the Taft-based squad’s deficiencies, 9-5. Hernandez, Gloria, and Ousseini cashed in on the Red Warriors’ offensive misfortunes to leave them vulnerable. With DLSU on the ropes, their relentless aggression and gritty defense kept the Red Warriors at bay, chipping the lead to 13-12 before the break.
Following the brief intermission, Gloria set the tone once again by firing a powerful spike to tie the game 13-all. With what seemed to be another cat-and-mouse game delivering multiple stalemates owed to La Salle’s strong defensive maneuvering and oppressiveness, UE broke the silence by propelling a successful attack, putting DLSU’s barricades on thin ice, 18-17. Following a series of rapid-fire kills on both sides of the court, Hernandez aimed and produced a 2-0 run to drive the Green Spikers forward, 23-22. After an unsuccessful reaching challenge, the Lasallian crowd in the arena erupted, showcasing their passion and spirit for the Green-and-White. In the end, the Green Spikers clinched the second frame off a superb defensive play by Nathaniel Bangit in an indomitable finish, 25-23.
A minor roadblock
Aiming to complete a sweep after securing the first two sets, the Green Spikers entered the third frame with high spirits. Both teams traded blows early, with Hernandez carrying the offensive load for La Salle to tie the game at 7-all. However, the Red Warriors quickly shifted the momentum on the other end. Capitalizing on Lasallian attack errors, Roca and Nabora targeted the gaps in the Taft-based squad’s floor defense. This offensive surge propelled the team from Recto to the technical timeout with a four-point advantage, 13-9.
Coming out of the break, Aceron caught fire and pushed the Red Warriors’ lead to six, 16-10. The Green-and-White refused to back down, sparking a brief 3-0 run anchored by Hernandez to trim the deficit, 17-14. Despite their efforts to mount a comeback, unforced errors plagued DLSU in the crucial stretch. Aceron continued his dominant set, piercing through the Lasallian blockers to close the frame in UE’s favor, 25-17.
Finishing the job
Entering the fourth set with renewed focus, La Salle cleaned up their offensive execution and tightened their net defense. Mendoza and Gloria set the tone early with explosive kills, establishing a 6-3 advantage. The Green Spikers capitalized on UE’s consecutive service errors to unleash a barrage of attacks. Anchored by the formidable middle defense of Ousseini, the Lasallians surged ahead to the technical timeout with a commanding eight-point lead, 13-5, following an unsuccessful UE challenge.
DLSU maintained their aggressive rhythm post-timeout. A quick connection between Flores and Layug kept the offense flowing, while Ousseini continued to protect the net from UE’s flurries. The Green-and-White methodically dismantled the Red Warriors, reaching the 20-point mark off another Hernandez attack down the middle, 20-11. Although Aceron and Nabora attempted a late rally for UE, the deficit proved insurmountable. Gloria delivered the final blow with a decisive strike, securing the set, 25-17, and sealing La Salle’s first victory of the tournament.
Now holding their first victory of the season, the DLSU Green Spikers will look to build a winning streak against the ADU Soaring Falcons on Wednesday, March 11, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
DLSU 3 – Hernandez 17, Gloria 15, Ousseini 15, Layug 6, Mendoza 6, Bangit 3, Magallanes 2, Ventura 2, Flores 0, Fortuna 0, Regidor 0
UE 1 – Aceron 30, Nabora 11, Roca 8, Camaymayan 7, Perit 3, Bicar 1, Ancheta 0, Budias 0, Rada 0, Villanueva 0, Yturralde 0
Set Scores: 27-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-17
