Wanting to give their captain a fitting farewell, the De La Salle University Green Spikers ended their campaign with their fifth win, outlasting the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 25-21, 25-21, 16-25, 23-25, 15-11, at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
In his final match as a Green Spiker, skipper Cris Dumago tallied 23 points off 18 attacks, three aces, and two blocks.
Head coach Arnold Laniog wanted to give his captain a proper sendoff, aside from ending his first season with La Salle with a win.
“Siyempre, last game na ni Dumago so gusto namin na maganda ‘yung tapos after ng ilang taong binigay niya sa school,” said Laniog.
“Maganda rin na ganito ‘yung tapos namin. Although hindi kami umabot ng Final Four, maraming positives na pwedeng makuha sa nilaro namin this season,” the first-year La Salle head coach added.
One of those positives is rookie Billie Anima, who ended his stellar season with a 22-point outburst against UP. Middle blocker Kieffer Reyes added 18 markers.
La Salle’s 5-9 record ranks them at sixth to end the season.
Opposite hitter Mark Millete topped UP with 23 points. Playing in their final UAAP game, Gian San Pascual and Jerry San Pedro managed double-digit performances with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
The Maroons had a solitary win in 14 outings in Season 81, putting then at eighth place.
The Scores
DLSU (3) – Dumago 23, Anima 22, Reyes 18, Delos Reyes 9, Bacon 7, Marco 6, Balanong 0, De Jesus 0, Serrano 0, Macaspac (L)
UP (2) – Millete 23, San Pascual 16, San Pedro 14, Consuelo 10, Ijiran 5, Baldelovar 2, Castillo 1, Enteria 0, Yan 0, Nasol (L)
