In a game between two teams with contrasting fates, the De La Salle University Green Spikers, a team that is peaking, did not let a tough set loss get in their way, taking a four-set win against the spiraling Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 27-29, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18, Sunday morning at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With the win, the Green Spikers are now tied at fifth with the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Spikers, tallying identical 4-6 slates. They are now just a game behind the fourth-running University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. On the other hand, Adamson have dropped their third game in a row and fall to a 2-8 record.
And after tallying their second win in a row, first-year Green Spikers head coach Nes Pamilar believes that his team is slowly buying into his system.
“Instruction ko lang sa kanila is take it one game at a time, huwag nilang pilitin. Ayoko na pumupunta sila dito para makalaro lang, yung mindset dapat namin is para manalo,” the veteran mentor shared. “Medyo nababago na yung sistema ngayon. Ine-explain ko sa kanila na ganito yung programa na ginagawa namin. Hindi naman tayo nagmamadali.”
However, there are still times that the team’s losing culture, something that had accumulated over the years, broke through. And it showed during the first set as La Salle dropped a grueling 29-27 loss. “Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ‘masyado kayo nasanay sa pagkatalo.’ Yung losing culture, hindi pa nawawala. Kaya may mga times, makikita mo nag-rerelax sila,” Pamilar admitted.
But behind the troika of Arjay Onia, Cris Dumago, and Geraint Bacon — and with a helping hand from Adamson’s errors — La Salle were able to cruise in the next three sets to secure the win.
Onia finished the game with a game-high 19 markers, 13 coming from kills, four from blocks, and two from aces. Cris Dumago added 18 markers for the Green Spikers.
“Ang goal namin ng first round is three wins tapos kakayanin nila mag-lima, yun yung forecast namin para magpursige pa. Hindi lang kami naging successful against UP pero kung nagpursige sila sana mas napalapit na kami sa target namin,” Pamilar lamented. “Pero ngayon, nandito na, kailangan ng magpursige para sa top four.”
Raymark Woo has missed his fifth straight game, after sustaining an MCL sprain during their four-set first round loss to the Adamson University last February 22.
Bacon added 13 markers for La Salle while Geuel Asia finished with 45 excellent sets.
JP Yude and Paolo Pablico paced Adamson with 13 markers each. However, Adamson committed 32 errors in the game.
La Salle looks to extend their streak when they face the National University Bulldogs (8-1) on Saturday, March 25, at 8:00am. Adamson, on the other hand, faces the still-unbeaten Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on Wednesday, March 22, at 10:00am. Both games will be played at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The Scores:
DLSU (3) – Onia 19, Dumago 18, Bacon 15, Delos Reyes 9, Jose 7, Asia G. 2, Marco 0, Asia R. 0, Dimayuga 0, Movido (L), Macaspac (L)
ADU (0) – Yude 0, Pablico 0, Labang 12, Sudaria 10, Ramirez 7, Alvarez 4, Pletado 3, Miranda 0, Melgar (L)
