With Season 78 Best Scorer Raymark Woo out for three weeks due to an MCL sprain, the De La Salle University Green Spikers survived their first test, vanquishing the University of the East Red Warriors, 25-14, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21, for their second win of the season at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Despite suffering a second set letdown, the Taft-based spikers pulled out strong mid-set runs in the last two sets to pull out the win.
“Malaking kawalan talaga si Raymark pero hindi namin puwedeng gawing excuse ‘yun para bumaba ‘yung laro namin. Malaking credit sa ibang players kasi nag-step up sila. Sana lang matuloy-tuloy na namin ito,” said La Salle head coach Nes Pamilar.
The biggest difference in the match was serve reception and unforced errors. La Salle were efficient, passing with a 60 percent success rate and limiting their errors to 23. UE were a paltry 41 percent on receive and surrendered 31 errors.
La Salle’s leading scorer for the season, Arjay Onia, tallied a game-high 21 points, while Rafael Del Pilar, Cris Dumago, and Raymark Woo’s replacement Levin Dimayuga each pitched in 12 markers.
La Salle improve their record to 2-4. Their last first-round match on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena against will be against the defending champs and league-leading Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (6-0).
Edward Camposano led the Warriors with 20 points, while Clifford Inoferio added 13.
The Warriors slide to their 34th straight loss and to 0-6 this season. They play their final first-round match on March 5 also at the SM Mall of Asia Arena against the struggling Adamson University Soaring Falcons (1-5).
The Scores
DLSU (3) – Onia 21, Del Pilar 12, Dimayuga 12, Dumago 12, Marco 6, Asia G. 3, Asia R. 1, Bacon 0, Maravilla 0, Marco 0, Movido (L)
UE (1) – Camposano 20, Inoferio 13, Imperial 11, Ortega 6, Lelic 5, Aljas 3, Espaldon 0, Imperial 0, Ernacio (L)
