The De La Salle University Green Spikers recovered from a disheartening loss on opening day, rallying a tight straight-set win over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 25-22, 25-23, 25-19, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
La Salle needed to rally back late in each set. The Taft-based spikers broke out of a 14-16 deficit in the first set to take a 20-18 lead. Both teams traded errors, La Salle’s Raymark, however, found his groove with back-to-back kills to end the match. Behind 21-23 in the following frame, La Salle’s Arjay Onia went on a solo 4-0 run to close the set.
The Green Spikers then sealed the win in the third frame, breaking away from a 15-16 technical timeout deficit with a closing 10-3 run.
“Work in progress kasi yung maturity na ma-attain nila,” said La Salle’s new head coach Norman Miguel who tallied his first win in the UAAP.
“After ng game na iyon, ni-work out namin, technically, yung strong serve, consistent passing and block, which naging effective naman at nanalo kami. Mas natuto silang ma-control ang emotions nila,” he added.
Onia finished with 19 points built on 17 attacks, a block, and an ace while Woo managed 10 markers.
Mark Milletw topped the Maroons with 14 points while graduating winger Wendel Miguel added 12 markers.
Both squads see action again on Wednesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre. La Salle (1-1) take on the FEU Tamaraws (2-0) while UP (1-1) faces the Adamson Soaring Falcons (0-2).
The Scores
DLSU (3) – Onia 19, Woo 10, Dumago 7, Reyes 7, Delos Reyes 6, Marco 4, Asia 1, Dimayuga 0, Frey 0, Movido (L)
UP (0) – Millete 14, Miguel 12, San Pascual 8, Castillo 4, San Pedro 3, Baldelovar 1, Consuelo 1, Acuna 0, Madrigalejos 0, Nasol (L)
