The DLSU Green Spikers overcame a fourth-set scare and responded with a decisive performance in the final frame to hand the second-seeded NU Bulldogs their second loss in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10, earlier today, March 15, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Chris Hernandez was named Player of the Game after a composed all-around showing, recording 18 points on 14 attacks, two blocks, and two aces. Issa Ousseini and Eugene Gloria also added 14 points apiece to bolster the Green Spikers’ comeback.
Meanwhile, Leo Ordiales led the NU Bulldogs with a stellar 22-point performance, while Jade Disquitado and Michaelo Buddin contributed 18 and 13 points, respectively.
Early disasters
With the anticipation of a better standing at the end of Round 1, both sides engaged in a tightly contested opening exchange as they scrambled to draw first blood. The Bulldogs were the first to settle into their groove, establishing their presence at the net and exploiting La Salle’s unsettled court formation to carve out a 6-4 lead. Just as a string of mishaps threatened to derail the Green Spikers’ start, Rui Ventura answered with a well-placed strike to the back of NU’s court before Hernandez followed with a service ace, bringing the score to 9-all. The defending champions remained unfazed, activating both Buddin and Ordiales who began exploiting the DLSU blockers’ hands to keep them in rhythm.
A back-and-forth battle between Hernandez and Ordiales emerged in the sequences that followed, with both hitters experimenting with diverse attacks. The NU opposite hitter stood tall, catching the defense off guard with a dump that forced a DLSU timeout, 18-15.
An attempt at a counter run soon faltered for the green shirts as Ventura struggled to get his attacks across and Ordiales continued to maximize his hot hand. Eventually, a net touch by the Bulldogs and Ousseini’s power tip halted NU’s potential run before the momentum swung right back. Ordiales repeatedly targeted the line, while attack errors continued to trouble DLSU, allowing the white shirts to close the set, 25-19.
Immediate response
The Lasallians welcomed the second set with grit, emphasized by a recovery from a long rally that opened an attack for Gloria, striking off a block for a 2-0 DLSU run. Service errors soon took over the floor, leveling the score at 3-all. The Bulldogs’ aggression was matched by Ousseini’s deadly defense. The middle blocker’s personal run kept DLSU afloat, however NU gained a comfortable cushion, forcing La Salle to call a timeout with a 13-9 scoreline. Right after, a drop shot by Gloria ignited the offense yet again, but an aggressive attack by La Salle would go long, redirecting the lead back to four.
Multiple errors crept behind the Bulldogs, creating openings for La Salle. A run by the green shirts then ensued, which was capped by a high-flying cross-court attack from MJ Fortuna. Now just down by one, intensity slowly started to build up. As exemplified by errors on both ends, the set’s crunch time started to ring. It would be Gloria that rose to the moment yet again to inject life into the green shirts, launching an attack off two blockers, 16-15. NU’s Obed Mukaba soon put a stop to the Lasallian frenzy with a straight attack and service ace, pushing the lead to three, 19-16. From this moment on, La Salle started to climb and never looked back.
A check by the blue shirts was contested by La Salle, earning the Taft side a point, holding a tied scoreline at 19-all. Layug and Regidor’s stonewall defense finally secured the lead for DLSU, worrying NU and forcing them to call for a timeout. Composure painted the floor green, as an attack from the Bulldogs was sent to the stands. Now carrying more momentum on the defensive end, a double-block from Layug and Regidor established a secure lead, initiating the crowd for a climactic rejection from none other than Gloria to seal the set at 25-20.
Brewing chemistry
With the match level, the third frame unfolded at a more measured pace as both teams tested the waters once more. Familiar errors began creeping back into La Salle’s game until Gloria sparked the offense with a cross-court kill to even the score at 5-all. Gradually finding better coordination—and aided by the Bulldogs’ late blocks—the Taft-based squad managed to earn a two-point edge, 10-8.
The set turned into a game of catch-up, with NU drawing closer behind Disquitado’s three consecutive kills that kept the margin at one, 15-14. On the other side of the court, the Green Spikers unleashed a timely 3-0 run, capped by Gloria’s attack that brushed the taller blockers and restored the cushion at 20-18.
Disquitado tried to get creative and ignite a late push, angling a down-the-line strike away from La Salle’s block. In the end, however, NU’s once-reliable wall began to loosen, enabling Ousseini and Uriel Mendoza to break through with decisive hits that won the set for the Green-and-White, 25-23.
Late surge
The Green-and-White found themselves lagging after the Bulldogs struck with combination plays and an ace from Michaelo Buddin to go up 3-1. Relentlessly, DLSU’s defense granted them the chance to even up the game. Capping off their own run, Gloria pierced the defense with a powerful hit, taking the lead at 4-3. Back-and-forth errors and uncoordinated hits showcased both squads’ sloppiness on the court. Leo Ordiales’ successful penetration from across the net opened a 9-6 NU advantage, which was quickly followed by an error from DLSU. Missed opportunities then held the Green Spikers down by six points, the most in the set. Looking to end the Lasallian drought, Hernandez sent an attack to the back row. Errors followed the white shirts, who were then punished by Gloria and Mendoza in consecutive plays which ultimately led to a Nationalian timeout.
Reinvigorated after the break, the Bulldogs slammed the door shut on any DLSU attempts. Highlighted by a barrage of high-flying attacks and combination plays from Disquitado, the Nationalians demonstrated more fight in the set. However, a Lasallian run was brought by a Hernandez attack reaching the back row, and an ace from Ventura to cut the score to 21-19. To the Green-and-White faithful’s dismay, the Bulldogs stayed cool in the clutch, while DLSU folded with service errors, dropping the set with a score of 25-22.
Unbroken streak
Still reeling from a fourth set that could have sealed the match, the green shirts entered the deciding frame with more intention. Gloria opened the scoring for DLSU with an attack that slipped through the blockers, 1-0. Ordiales quickly countered, firing off back-to-back kills to nudge NU ahead, 4-3.
Appearing more aggressive, both teams began committing attack errors before La Salle went for a 3-0 run. The burst featured a hallmark quick attack and a service ace from Ousseini which built them a comfortable cushion, 8-5. Although Ordiales kept his team within striking distance, the Taft-based squad found a steady answer in Mendoza, who proved to be a natural in locating open spaces in NU’s court. Coupled with a solid block party and an expanded attacking reach, the Green Spikers pulled away and closed the match in their favor, 15-10.
The conclusion to the first round was laid with momentum and cemented in an emphatic victory against the defending champions. Mendoza mentioned that for the remainder of their campaign, the squad will be more complete and composed: “Ang ma-e-expect ng mga sumusuporta sa amin is yung mas buo at mas may kumpiyansa.”
(What our supporters can expect from us is to play as a whole unit and with more confidence.)
He then added that the Green-and-White faithful can rely on the Spikers to stick together with full trust in themselves and in the system.
“Ngayon, nakukuha na namin ‘yung groove namin. Pero ‘yung faith namin sa isa’t isa, sa system namin, sa coach namin, ‘di pa rin nawawala ‘yun.”
(We’ve only found our groove now, but our faith in one another, in our system and our coach will never fade.)
Getting a grasp of their rhythm toward the end of the first round has sparked the Green Spikers, as their belief in one another and in the Animo is what will push them forward in the rest of their campaign. The Green Spikers now await for the upcoming schedule for Round 2.
The Scores:
DLSU 3 – Hernandez 18, Gloria 14, Ousseini 14, Mendoza 12, Layug 5, Fortuna 2, Ventura 2, Regidor 1, R. Flores 0, Retiro 0, Magallanes 0, N. Flores 0, Abut 0, Bangit 0, Magalaman 0, Rodriguez 0
NU 2 – Ordiales 22, Disquitado 18, Buddin 13, Mukaba 7, Taguibolos 3, Gallego 2, Ancheta 0, Abanilla 0, Egger 0, Mendoza 0, Hernandez 0, Gapultos 0, Bolabola 0, Parreno 0, Macatangay 0, Diao 0
Set Scores: 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-10
