De La Salle University silenced University of Santo Tomas inside a jampacked SMART Araneta Coliseum, winning in four sets 25-20, 25-27, 25-20, 25-18, to force a playoff for the number two seed in the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Volleyball Final Four on Saturday.
The Green Spikers rolled to their sixth straight win to finish the elimination round with an 11-3 record, tied with National University for second.
They will have a playoff game for the twice-to-beat incentive in the next round.
“Mahirap yung pinagdaanan ng team pero every game talaga gagawin namin ang best namin,” said La Salle head coach Jose Roque. “Gagawin namin lahat para makuha namin yung twice-to-beat advantage.”
Sherwin Umandal and Gboy De Vega provided the clutch hits that gave the Golden Spikers the second set to equalize, 27-25.
However, that would be their last laugh.
The Green Spikers powered through the third frame thanks to the timely hits of Billie Anima and Nathaniel Del Pilar. That, along with the constant productions of Vince Maglinao and JM Ronquillo, let them regain control, 25-20.
Then it was Noel Kampton’s time in the fourth, drawing energy from the pro-La Salle crowd, to finish the game in two hours and 12 minutes.
Ronquillo led the Green Spikers with 21 points on an efficient clip of 21-of-35 in spikes, while Maglinao added 19 points and six digs.
Kampton netted 18 points and nine receptions.
Meanwhile, Menard Guerrero anchored their defense with 16 receptions and 11 digs.
The Golden Spikers dropped to 8-6. They will face the twice-to-beat-powered, top-seed Far Eastern University in the semis.
Reigning MVP Josh Ybañez, who suffered from leg cramps late in the third set but returned later on, produced 24 points and 19 excellent receptions for UST.
De Vega contributed 15 points, while Umandal had 12 points.
