For the third consecutive season, De La Salle University is heading to the Final Four of the UAAP Men’s Volleyball Tournament. But this time, the Green Spikers are hoping to finally secure a spot on the podium.
In Seasons 85 and 86, La Salle finished in fourth place. Now, the team is setting its sights higher.
Their road to the podium officially resumes with the continuation of the second round games after the Holy Week break.
Although already assured of finishing either third or fourth entering the semifinals, the Green Spikers are not taking any chances with two games left in the elimination round.
“Siguro wala muna kaming focus sa Final Four ngayon. Yung remaining two games muna namin,” said team captain Noel Kampton on Sunday, after La Salle survived a five-set thriller against University of the Philippines to clinch a semis berth.
“Siguro itong next games namin against Adamson and FEU paghahandaan pa namin para pagdating ng Final Four nandoon na yung rhythm namin.”
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
La Salle’s opponent in the semifinals—either Far Eastern University or National University—will be determined based on the final results of the elimination round. Both NU and FEU are in contention for the twice-to-beat advantage.
That makes the Green Spikers’ remaining games against the Adamson Soaring Falcons and the FEU Tamaraws all the more crucial.
“Syempre very important yung last two games kasi padulo na nga eh, so dapat mas pulido na yung galaw namin, less errors, and yung chemistry namin dapat mas mapabuti pa namin para pagdating ng playoffs, steady na kami and ma-execute namin yung dapat namin i-execute,” said opposite spiker Rui Ventura.
“Sabi ko we play hard talaga itong last remaining games. Sabihin na namin na Final Four na kami pero we don’t take it with much gravity eh. Talagang tatapusin namin yung second round. Kung kaya namin i-sweep yung remaining games, I think better preparation yun for us para sa semis,” added head coach Jose Roque.
La Salle split its elimination round games against NU, winning their second-round encounter in four sets. Now, the Green Spikers aim to carry that momentum into their final eliminations match against FEU on April 26.
