Noel Kampton unleashed a 26-point performance to lead De La Salle University to a 25-20, 27-25, 24-26, 25-17 victory over Adamson University, clinching a share of third place in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Kampton’s dominant play was the driving force behind the Green Spikers’ crucial win, tying them with UST at 9-4 and setting up a thrilling finale to determine the third seed in the upcoming Final Four race.
Despite facing an already-eliminated Adamson team, La Salle made sure not to take the match lightly. This victory, combined with UST’s sweep of the University of the Philippines earlier in the day, means the third seed in the men’s division Final Four will be decided in the final round of elimination games this weekend at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
If the Green Spikers triumph over the top-seeded FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, they would need a Golden Spikers loss to the NU Bulldogs on Sunday to secure the third seed. However, if both UST and La Salle finish the weekend with identical win-loss records, the Golden Spikers will claim the third seed based on their win over La Salle earlier in the season.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Siguro, it’s more of the mental aspect na lang kailangan namin i-work on. The technique and skills ay nandoon, pero it’s just that naghahabol kami ‘eh, kaya hindi namin minsan makita kung paano kami maglaro as a team. ‘Yon yung nagiging struggle namin,” said Green Spikers head coach Jose Roque.
“We are still on track on finding the right recipe para mapakita kung anong klaseng laro maibibigay ng DLSU.”
Desperate to avoid a sweep, the Soaring Falcons mounted a comeback in the third set after trailing by three points. With the Green Spikers on match point, Adamson scored three straight points — a crosscourt hit by John Gay, an off-the-block attack by Jude Aguilar, and an ace from RJ Obeda — to force a fourth set.
Despite the setback, the Green Spikers quickly regained control, launching a series of well-coordinated attacks and solid floor defense to prevent a five-set match against the already-eliminated Falcons.
Trailing 11-12 in the fourth set, La Salle went on a dominant 10-3 run — highlighted by a block from Rui Ventura, two quick hits from Eric Layug, and a 1-2 play from Eco Adajar — to establish a comfortable 22-15 lead.
Capitalizing on attack errors from Aguilar and Dan Gutierrez, the Green Spikers sealed their ninth win of the season with a block by Layug.
Kampton received strong support from Ventura, who contributed 19 points, while Hernandez added 11 points, including 10 attacks, 11 excellent receptions, and three excellent digs.
Nat del Pilar chipped in eight points, with five attacks and three blocks, while Layug contributed six points in the victory.
Adajar registered 25 excellent sets, along with three points and three excellent digs, in the one-hour and 47-minute match. Team captain Menard Guerrero tallied 19 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Following their second-round win against a winless University of the East, Adamson has now dropped five straight matches, remaining in seventh place with a 2-11 record.
Eager to finish Season 87 on a high note, the Soaring Falcons will face the Fighting Maroons on Saturday, also at the Big Dome.
Aguilar led Adamson in the loss with 17 points, including 16 attacks, while Gutierrez added 16 points on 14 attacks and 10 excellent receptions.
Paulino contributed nine points, including eight attacks and six excellent receptions, while Leo Coguimbal tallied eight points, four attacks, and four blocks.
