Needing to keep winning in a packed Group A, the De La Salle University Green Spikers dispatched the Philippine Merchant Marine School Mariners in three close sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22, in the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
Grouped with FEU,NU, and UPHSD – all of whom have a 3-1 record -, La Salle desperately needed to take down the Mariners to improve their 2-1 standing.
The winless Mariners, however, were out to prove they were better than their standing. PMMS kept close with the UAAP squad, only melting down in the tail end of sets.
La Salle needed PMMS’ miscues to break away from late ties in the first and second set and end with a flurry of hits. The Green Spikers then saw a five-point lead dwindle down to two, 22-20, before they mustered a game-clinching run.
La Salle opposite hitter Mike Frey, who missed their last match due to a flu, tallied a team-high 11 points off eight hits, two blocks, and an ace. Cagyan de Oro native Cris Dumago piled up 10 markers in just two sets of action.
“Ang importante sa amin is madevelop ‘yung maturity ng team pati ‘yung chemistry sa mga ganitong laro. Marami pa kaming kailangan ayusin at baguhin pero nakakatuwa na may maganda nang naipapakita ang mga bata,” said La Salle head coach Nes Pamilar.
Kris Premaylon led the Mariners with 11 points while Ram-j Pakingan and Erickson Chan each provided seven points.
The Green Spikers (A, 3-1) next take on UAAP rivals Far Eastern University Tamaraws (A, 3-1) on Saturday, 12 nn at the FilOil Flying V Centre. PMMS (A, 0-4) will face the CSB Blazers (A, 0-4) in its last assignment on Monday, August 29 at 10:00am.
The Scores
DLSU (3) – Frey 11, Dumago 10, Onia 9, Woo 7, Elorde 5, Asia G. 2, Bacon 2, Del Pilar 2, Delos Reyes 1, Dimayuga 1, Maravilla 1, Marco 0, Asia R. (L), Movido (L)
PMMS (0) – Premaylon 11, Chan 7, Pakingan 7, Fortaleza 3, Gumera 3, Balanga 3, Sulit 3, Hasim 2, Pabillar 2, Gapaz 1, Del Carmen 0, Garcia 0, Santos (L), Llanera (L)
