De La Salle University strengthened its Final Four bid after eliminating University of the East, 25-17, 25-11, 25-21, in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Tuesday.
The Green Spikers hardly broke a sweat in the first two sets before fending off a late attempt by the Red Warriors in the third to clinch their second consecutive win, which kept them in the third spot with a 7-3 record.
“Sabi ko nga sa team, from after FEU, talagang kailangan focus kami sa succeeding games namin whoever magiging opponent namin. Handa talaga kami. Yun yung binigay ko na mindset. For us na makapasok lang sa Final Four,” said La Salle head coach Jose Roque.
Noel Kampton stepped up in the third set and hammered down two points in a key 4-1 run that turned a 19-all deadlock into a 23-20 advantage for the Green Spikers.
Joshua Pozas stopped the bleeding with an off-speed hit before Eugene Gloria answered with an attack via a combination play that put La Salle at match point. Isaiah Roca’s attack sailed out in the following play, sealing the win for the Green Spikers.
Kampton’s efficiency was on full display against UE, tallying 17 points on a 76-percent attack rate to go along with nine excellent receptions to lead La Salle, who played without team captain JM Ronquillo, who has yet to recover from sickness.
Nathaniel Del Pilar and Vince Maglinao chipped in eight points each while Glen Ventura and Billie Amina had six markers apiece in the victory.
The Green Spikers hope to solidify its Final Four bid further when they take on defending champion National University on Sunday, 12:00 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Meanwhile, the Red Warriors suffered their third straight loss, dropping to 1-9 to bow out of Final Four contention.
Angelo Reyes led the way for UE with 11 points, all on attacks, while Pozas added 10 points in the loss.
The Red Warriors will look to snap its skid against Ateneo also on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
