Coming into the match winless, De La Salle University Dasmariñas torched fellow cellar dweller, Arellano University Chiefs, 26-24, 23-25, 25-23, 26-24 to end their campaign with a bang in the Spikers Turf Season One Collegiate Conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena, late Monday afternoon.
Errors plagued both teams in the start of the first set as they both exchanged points through each other’s errors. Luckily for De La Salle Dasmariñas, Eddimar Kasim, and Brya Paul Castro carried the scoring load for the Chiefs, as they countered Arellano’s rally in the set.
In the second set, the Chiefs were able to build a 16-11 lead in the second technical timeout, behind the efforts of Christopher Soriano, and Kenneth Aliyacyac. However, the Patriots, behind Kasim, kept chasing down the Legarda-based squad. The Chiefs were able to put the necessary stops to avoid being down two sets to none.
With scores tied at 21 all in the third set, Christopher Soriano scored down the line to give the Chiefs a slim 22-21 lead; the late errors of the Chiefs killed their chances, as it helped the Patriots get the third set .
Both teams played a tight fourth set, with the score tied at 22. Christian Segovia and Kenneth Aliyacyac carried Arellano to bring them to set point, 24-22. John Joseph Cabillan and Alvin Cacayuran scored down the line to tie the game at 24 for La Salle Dasmariñas. Kasim and Aldin Bin put the finishing touches for the Patriots to finally taste their first win.
Patriots Head Coach Joven Racelis said the Spikers Turf Tournament helped in boosting the confidence and consistency of its players, especially since most of them are in their first and second years of playing in their mother league.
“Consistency at confidence ng players, kaya naman sabayan sa power, kasi kung ayaw lumaban wala tayo magagawa,” said Racelis.
Kasim top scored the Patriots with 16th points, 13 coming from attacks and two service aces, while Castro and Wilbert Sapida chipped 14 points each.
Cabillan finished with 14 points for the Chiefs and Segovia contributed 10 points.
The Patriots finished with a 1-4 win loss record, while the Chiefs are winless in their five assignments in Group B action.
The Scores:
DLSU-D (4) – Kasim 16, Castro 14, Sapida 14, Cacayuran 11, Bin 8, Adam 3, Mirano 1, Canilang 0, Benitez 0, Abdulwahab 0, Pomada (L), Marquez (L)
AU (1) – Cabillan 14, Segovia 11, Sarino 10, Soriano 10, Aliyacyac 8, Del Espiritu 2, Latip 2, Santo 1, Digal 0, Liberato J 0, Dela Cruz (L)
