With De La Salle University’s UAAP Season 87 Men’s Volleyball Final Four hopes on the line, graduating spikers Vince Maglinao and Noel Kampton made sure the Green Spikers punched their ticket to the next round.
Kampton and Maglinao rose to the occasion, leading La Salle past a gritty University of the Philippines side in a thrilling five-set battle, 11-25, 25-18, 25-21, 28-30, 15-9, on Sunday afternoon at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
For the third consecutive season since UAAP Season 85 in 2023, the Final Four cast in the men’s division remains unchanged: the FEU Tamaraws, NU Bulldogs, UST Golden Spikers, and the Green Spikers.
The win not only lifted La Salle to an 8-4 record, tying UST for third place, but also officially eliminated Ateneo de Manila University from Final Four contention. This marks the Blue Eagles’ third straight season missing the semifinals — a drought that began in Season 85.
“With the game, I think trinabaho naman talaga namin, pero gaya nung sinasabi ko sa team ko, kung sino yung nasa harap, gagawa talaga yan ng paraan just to beat us, kaya kailangan natin lumaban talaga. ‘Yon lang yung reminder namin sa kanila, and nagrespond naman yung team,” said Green Spikers head coach Jose Roque.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Now, La Salle eyes a podium finish after falling short in the last two seasons.
UP made things difficult in the deciding set, with Nigerian wing spiker Olayemi Raheem rejecting Maglinao and Dan Nicolas adding a block to give the Fighting Maroons a 7-5 advantage. But the Green Spikers displayed poise under pressure, refusing to back down.
After suffering a 10-2 run in UP’s dominant first-set win, La Salle returned the favor when it mattered most. Kampton sparked the rally with two straight attacks, followed by a block and crosscourt hit from Rui Ventura.
A costly net touch by Nicolas then allowed the Green Spikers to establish a 12-8 cushion they would not relinquish.
Kampton fired a crosscourt hit, before Ventura came through with a timely block. Then Kampton delivered the match-winning crosscourt kill to seal La Salle’s third straight Final Four appearance.
“Hindi ko tinatake as negative yung nangyari na umabot sa fifth set kasi what if sa Final Four, may games na fifth sets din kami? Kaya at least ready kami. Hindi kami sanay kasi maglaro sa fifth set dati, kaya ang ganda rin ng pinakita namin,” said Kampton, who led the charge with 24 points on 22 attacks, 15 excellent receptions, and five digs.
Ventura supported him with 16 points built on 14 attacks and five excellent digs, while Season 86 Second Best Middle Blocker Nat del Pilar chipped in 11 points off eight attacks and three blocks.
Maglinao provided a well-rounded outing with 16 excellent receptions and nine digs, while Eric Layug contributed seven points, including six attacks.
Eco Adajar steered La Salle’s offense with 24 excellent sets and added nine digs. Season 86 Best Libero and team captain Menard Guerrero anchored the floor defense with 15 excellent digs and 15 receptions.
La Salle returns to action after the league’s Holy Week break with a matchup against the eliminated Adamson University Soaring Falcons on Wednesday, April 23, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Raheem led UP in the losing effort with 25 points on 22 attacks, while Nicolas added 16 points off 12 attacks and four blocks. The Fighting Maroons dropped to 3-9 following their second straight defeat, with two games remaining in the elimination round.
Rookie Tommy Castrodes managed 11 points on a 11-of-37 attack clip, but contributed 17 excellent receptions and nine digs. Meanwhile, Lipata chipped in 10 points and 18 receptions.
Angelo Aballe had 30 excellent sets in the loss.
UP will also return from the Holy Week break on Wednesday, April 23, to face UST at the same venue in Pasay.
#WATCH: Jose Roque applauds Noel Kampton and the DLSU Green Spikers for leaving it all on the court, overcoming UP to secure the final #UAAPSeason87 Final Four spot 🏐
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/ACH3qZv4DJ
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 13, 2025
