De La Salle University and the University of Santo Tomas punched their tickets to the semifinals of the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, setting up a showdown for the top seed after dispatching separate foes, Saturday at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center in Manila.
The unbeaten Green Spikers (6-0) fended off archrival Ateneo de Manila University and the returning Ken Batas in four sets, 25-22, 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, while the Golden Spikers (5-1) rallied from a set down to outlast Far Eastern University, 19-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-17.
La Salle leaned on the explosive scoring of Eugene Gloria, who tallied 21 points built on 19 attacks, while Chris Hernandez chipped in 14 markers on top of 13 excellent receptions. Second-year libero Sherwin Retiro anchored the defense with 12 digs and 13 receptions that kept the Taft-based squad in control of the one-hour-and-45-minute contest.
“Sabi ko nga, hindi dapat natin minamaliit ‘yung mga nakakaharap natin. I know that Ateneo will be eager to beat us, and, although nagkaroon ng lapses, sinabi ko lang na back to the system, pace lang tayo,” said head coach Jose Roque. “Hindi naman natin kailangang magmadali; whatever happens is it’s because ‘yun ‘yung ginawa natin.”
Playmaker NJ Bangit dished out 16 excellent sets to balance La Salle’s attack, while Cameroonian middle blocker Issa Ousseini was limited to nine points.
For Ateneo, Amil Pacinio carried the load with 21 points, captain Jian Salarzon added 13 markers alongside 13 receptions, and Batas, fresh from national team duty, chipped in four points off the bench. The Blue Eagles fell to 3-3 and will try to keep their Final Four bid alive against winless Arellano University (0-6) on Sunday at 3 p.m.
(C) V-League
Earlier in the day, UST joined La Salle in the Final Four with a gritty four-set win over FEU.
Al-Bukharie Sali powered the España-based squad with a game-high 29 points on 26 attacks, two blocks, and an ace, while also collecting five digs. JJ Macam and GBoy De Vega backed him up with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
“Yung naging difference do’n, nung second set, is naglaro sila as a team. ‘Yun ang importante; to play as a team kahit sinong makakalaban, hindi mahirap mabalikan,” said UST assistant coach Benjamin Mape.
The Tamaraws started strong behind Dryx Saavedra and Mikko Espartero, but UST’s adjustments from the service line turned the tide. Serving specialist Gab Hernandez rattled FEU’s reception, paving the way for a cleaner UST offense that sealed the one-hour-and-42-minute win.
Saavedra and Amet Bituin each finished with 13 points for FEU, while Vennie Ceballos steadied their floor defense with 22 excellent receptions. The Tamaraws (3-2) will look to recover against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (1-4) on Sunday at 5 p.m.
With both La Salle and UST safely in the semifinals, their highly anticipated clash on October 1 at 5 p.m. looms large, with the No. 1 spot in the Final Four at stake after the tournament break for the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.
“Whether naman kahit sino kalaban, halos pare-parehas. Hindi kami pwedeng mag-relax at maging confident masyado; so, kung UST man ‘yan, we will try hard to prepare our game against them,” Roque said. “Pero magfo-focus lang kami on how we’ll work as a team.”
For UST, the match is equally crucial.
“We’ll use this game to motivate ‘yung mga personal mindset nila na kaya naman nila kahit medyo malakas talaga mga nakakalaban namin ngayon,” Mape added. “Basta maniwala lang kami sa program, sa play, sa instruction ng coaches, malalayo mararating namin.”
