De La Salle University rallied from four points down in the first set and carried that momentum to sweep University of the East, 26-24, 25-13, 25-23, in the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Tournament, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Trailing 20-24 in the opening set, Noel Kampton and MJ Fortuna delivered two points each to force a deuce. An attack error by the Red Warriors then put the Green Spikers ahead, 25-24.
Senior spiker Kampton sealed the comeback with a solid kill block, giving La Salle the first set.
Riding the wave of their opening-set victory, the Green Spikers dominated the second set, 25-13. The Red Warriors, already shorthanded, suffered another setback when their only available setter for the match, Dave Poquita, went down with an apparent left foot injury at 5-2.
Poquita was unable to return.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I just reminded the team na kung ano man ang magiging resulta, ilaban niyo. Whether nawala na ‘yung setter ng UE, it doesn’t mean na ibibigay na nila ‘yung laro so sabi ko keep on going,” said La Salle head coach Jose Roque, after his team improved to 3-2 for solo fourth place.
UE’s main setter, Andre Bicar, also missed the match due to illness, forcing wing spiker Steven Aligayon to step in as the team’s playmaker for the remainder of the game.
In the third set, JJ Rodriguez’s quick reaction on a floating ball gave La Salle match point. Chris Hernandez then sealed the win with a through-the-block hit, wrapping up the contest in one hour and 36 minutes.
“Thankful lang kasi nung previous games medyo low ‘yung nilalaro ko. Thankful ako kala coach kasi binigyan pa rin nila ako ng chance na ipakita ‘yung potential ko,” said transferee Fortuna, who led all scorers with 13 points on 10-of-20 attacks and three blocks, while also contributing five digs.
Vince Maglinao, still recovering from a grade 2 right ankle sprain, recorded his first double-digit performance of the season with 11 points and eight digs. Kampton finished with eight points in two sets played.
La Salle will next face Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, still at the same Pasay venue.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Meanwhile, UE remained winless in six outings and will attempt to close the first round on a high note against Ateneo next Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Rookie Roy Piojo once again led the Red Warriors with 10 points, while newcomer Raquim Aceron added nine points, 11 receptions, and five digs.
