Josh Ybañez’s much-anticipated return from national team duties couldn’t stop De La Salle University from completing a perfect preliminary round in the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge.
The Green Spikers held off a determined University of Santo Tomas squad in a thrilling five-set battle, 23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 24-26, 15-12, on Monday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.
With Ybañez and Trevor Valera leading the Golden Spikers’ charge, Rui Ventura and Eugene Gloria guided La Salle to a hard-fought victory that marked their seventh consecutive win.
Ventura delivered the kill that gave De La Salle a 13-9 cushion in the decider, while Gloria sealed the sweep with a backrow kill.
As the top seeds, La Salle (7-0) will take on fourth-ranked Ateneo de Manila University (4-3) in the best-of-three semifinals starting Wednesday at the same venue.
“Gaya ng mga previous games namin, we’re getting there. Pero gaya rin ng minemention ko every interview, siguro we have to really focus do’n sa solidarity ng team. And at the same time, do’n sa skills nila and be more consistent,” said head coach Jose Roque.
“May mga lapses so ‘yun talaga ‘yung kailangan naming patibayin. Not to be perfect, but to be better lang than the previous games.”
Issa Ousseini led the charge for La Salle with 20 points off 13 attacks and seven blocks. Meanwhile, Ventura came off the bench to provide an additional offensive threat, finishing with 18 markers.
Gloria contributed a rousing two-way performance with 17 attacks, seven digs, and 16 excellent receptions.
(C) V-League
Fresh from his World Championships stint, Ybañez kept UST (5-2) in the fight, especially in the fourth-set turnaround, channeling his national team libero experience with two crucial saves that led to transition kills from GBoy De Vega.
Ybañez finished with 13 points on 11 attacks, one block, and one service ace, while De Vega and Valera added 12 markers each.
The Golden Spikers’ 34 errors, however, proved costly and kept them on the back foot for much of the match.
(C) V-League
Meanwhile, National University closed its rollercoaster run in the preliminaries on a high note, rallying past Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 12-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-23.
In front of their seniors and Alas Pilipinas members Michaelo Buddin, Peng Taguibolos, Jade Disquitado, and Leo Ordiales, the younger Bulldogs leaned on Joelbert Doromal and Luke Macatangay’s inspired play in the fourth set to seal the match in one hour and 29 minutes.
NU wrapped up the preliminaries with a 3-4 record, good for fifth place, while the Knights finished seventh at 2-5.
“Siyempre happy ako sa naging performance namin, especially dito sa last game namint,” said long-time NU head coach Dante Alinsunurin.
“Kasi first set pa lang binigyan na kami ng magandang laban ng Letran. Pagdating ng second, third, and fourth, nag-respond naman sila sa binigay kong challenge sa kanila. Kaya thankful ako sa naging panalo namin, at siyempre sa mga players na nagtrabaho talaga at sumunod sa gusto naming mangyari sa court.”
After a shaky first set — uncharacteristic of NU — the Bulldogs tightened their transition plays and capitalized on their passing, allowing setter Andrei Bolabola to dish out 24 excellent sets.
NU hammered 51 attack points, led by Doromal and Macatangay, who each tallied 13 spikes and finished with 14 markers apiece. Migs Egger contributed 12 points, including three blocks.
For Letran, Dave Lardizabal delivered a solid outing against his former high school squad, scoring 16 points, though the Knights struggled to maintain the momentum from their opening-set win.
