De La Salle University unleashed its frustrations on the University of the East, 27-25, 25-23, 17-25, 25-17, securing a breakthrough win in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Tournament Saturday morning at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Eager to atone for a 0-4 start—the program’s worst in the Final Four era—the Green Spikers overcame a 30-point explosion from Raquim Aceron and a third-set stumble, powered by Chris Hernandez, Cameroonian middle blocker Issa Ousseini, and Eugene Gloria, en route to their first victory of the season.
With the triumph, La Salle improved to solo seventh place with a 1-4 win-loss record ahead of a clash against Adamson University—set to face the University of Santo Tomas as of publishing—on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Green Spikers had a challenging start to the campaign.
Aside from losing seniors Noel Kampton, Vince Maglinao, and setter Eco Adajar, La Salle was also without injured libero Win Retiro for a fourth straight match.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Gaya ng binabanggit ko sa team, [our record] does not mean we are down by four. Kailangan talaga trabahuin namin kung ano yung need punuan, pupunuan namin para makuha namin ang game na ito,” Green Spikers head coach Jose Roque said.
“Talagang trabaho lang talaga kami. Whether three-set loss, four sets, or five sets, kung ano lang yung kailangan namin punuan, pupunuan namin. We’re still learning kung anong adjustments, and at the same time, encouraging them na we have to play better than the last game,” he added.
In the fourth set, La Salle immediately set the tone. A Hernandez off-the-block hit, two Yoyong Mendoza attacks, and a Mark Lee Budias miscue sent UE into an eight-point hole, 13-5, that proved insurmountable.
The Green Spikers maintained control from that point, as an Aceron service error, two attacks by Mendoza and Eric Layug, and a game-winning down-the-line attack from Gloria sealed the hard-fought victory in 1 hour and 55 minutes.
La Salle narrowly took the first two sets before UE forced a third-set comeback, winning 25-17 behind Aceron, CJ Nabora, and Gerald Perit.
Hernandez led the Green Spikers with 17 points, nine excellent receptions, and five excellent digs, while Gloria added 15 points on 14 attacks, eight excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions.
Ousseini contributed 15 points on nine attacks, four blocks, and two aces, while Layug chipped in six points on five attacks.
NJ Bangit, the Green Spikers’ new playmaker, orchestrated the offense with 28 excellent sets and three points, while Neil Flores filled in admirably for Retiro, tallying 17 excellent receptions and seven excellent digs.
La Salle will next face Adamson University on Wednesday, March 11, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Meanwhile, the Red Warriors suffered their third straight loss, dropping to last place in the eight-team field with a 1-5 record.
Aceron paced UE with 30 points on 27 attacks, two aces, and one block, along with 21 excellent receptions, while Nabora added 11 points, 13 excellent digs, and eight excellent receptions.
Isaiah Roca contributed eight points on six attacks and two blocks with six excellent digs, and Xjhann Camaymayan scored seven points on six attacks.
The Red Warriors will aim to close the first round on a high note when they take on the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles next Saturday, March 14, at the same Pasay arena.
