Green Spikers claim victory against UP
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers (6–3) returned to action with a victory against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons (0–10), 25–20, 25–16, 25–14, earlier today at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Eco Adajar’s 20 excellent sets propelled the Green Spikers to victory, closely followed by 12-point outlets from captain JM Ronquillo and Vince Maglinao.
When the first set started, the Lasallians scored two quick points from Nat Del Pilar’s block and quick attack. However, the Maroons recovered with a four-point run to take the lead at 2–4 with Louis Gamban at the service line. From there, La Salle stepped on the gas to match UP’s intensity, where multiple plays from setter Adajar propelled them to a tie at six-all. Neither team wanted to give the lead, creating multiple deadlocks for a while. However, UP gained momentum after Angelo Lagando’s service ace, giving them a two-point cushion at 11–13. Down two, DLSU strategized again to make a four-point run led by Maglinao’s flurry of attacks to take the lead, 15–13. Following this, an exchange of plays created multiple ties once again, 18-all, before captain Ronquillo’s attacks helped propel DLSU to 22–18. La Salle continued to hold on to the lead and soon secured the first set after a Billie Anima block, 25–20.
To get things started on the second set, Adajar opened with a service ace. However, the Maroons did not let this affect them, going head-to-head against the Green Spikers for a close fight, once again exchanging plays and leads until the latter went on a four-point run via multiple attacks from Jules De Jesus, taking the lead at 11–7 to force a UP timeout. The squad from Katipunan took it up a notch to try and cut the lead, but the Green and White were at the top of their game with Ronquillo, De Jesus, Del Pilar, and Anima landing attacks to increase their cushion to 19–11, forcing another UP timeout. Gene Poquita and Rui Ventura were then subbed in late on the set, with the tandem closing out the set after a Rui quick attack, 25–16.
The same story emerged at the start of the third set, as the score was tied at three. For a while, neither team created enough momentum to take a big lead, before, La Salle secured a three-point gap led by a Layug ace, 10–7. From then on, the Lasallians went on a rampage at the hand of Adajar, generating a seven-point lead at 18–11. Jonathan De Castro, Eugene Gloria, Uriel Mendoza, Poquita, and Ventura were subbed in towards the end of the set, with Poquita, Ventura, and Del Pilar leading the Green Spikers to secure the third set at 25–14, sweeping the Maroons on their second-round matchup.
Catch the Green Spikers on April 9, 12 PM, at the SMART Araneta Coliseumas they aim to add another W against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors.
Set scores: 25–20, 25–16, 25–14
Box scores:
DLSU 3 — Ronquillo 12, Maglinao 12, Anima 8, Del Pilar 8, Ventura 5, Kampton 4, De Jesus 3, Layug 3, Adajar 1, Mendoza 1
UP 0 — Lagando 12, Gamban 9, Malabanan 6, Rubin 4, Nicolas 2, Santiago 1
