Green Spikers fall short to FEU
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers (1–1) fell short and suffered their first Season 86 loss against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws (2–0), 18–25, 25–20, 22–25, 17–25, earlier today at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The match started in favor of the Tamaraws as Andrei Delicana got an attack through the Taft block, 0–1. The Green Spikers were quick to answer with an attack from Nathaniel Del Pilar to level the score at 1-all. It was a slow start for DLSU, getting pegged at a single point while the Morayta-based squad was successful enough to score with their consistent offense and defense. A Tamaraw attack error, however, tied the match at 5-all. Here, the Green Spikers still struggled to find rhythm and chemistry in their movement and plays, making it difficult to get past FEU’s defense. Team Captain JM Ronquillo went for a down-the-line attack which FEU’s libero Bryce De Guzman misreceived, granting the Green Spikers a point.
Throughout the first set, DLSU lacked coverage behind the blockers which the Tamaraws used to their advantage by going for attacks off-the-block resulting in a check ball. Having difficulty closing in on the point gap, the Green Spikers took every attacking opportunity they could to score. Vince Maglinao secured back-to-back points from his crosscourt attacks, setting the score at 13–15. Unintended errors played a big role in the Green Spiker’s downfall. After a misreceive and an attack error, the first set capped off at 18–25, without DLSU having ever led the scoring.
The second set displayed the Green Spikers’ reflection on their performance during the prior set, starting strong with a triple Taft tower block that denied FEU from scoring the first point. From there, multiple errors from both teams led to a prolonged game of chase, only scoring one point above the other and catching up by the next score. With the score set at 5–4 from a service ace by Maglinao, DLSU began to slowly get into their scoring groove as they worked hard for every point. Billie Anima made his presence known with a running attack that kept the team ahead by a three-point gap, 8–5. Back-to-back points by Noel Kampton played a significant role in the steady lead that DLSU had which kept them far out of reach. Soon, the Green Spikers bagged the set at 25–20 and extended the match to a four-set game.
Hoping to bring the winning high into the third set, the Green Spikers scored with a Kampton attack that FEU’s De Guzman was unable to receive. After back and forth of point-bearing plays, DLSU began to falter and struggled to pull away from the Tamaraws’ score, relying on the latter’s misreceives to score. Both the Morayta and Taft squads were eager to take home a four-set win so they stopped at nothing to get a set advantage — constantly tying scores and chasing each other’s point leads. The Green Spikers tried their best to close the point gap but the pressure increased as the set came to a close. In the last remaining points of the set, DLSU was unable to surpass FEU’s score. Martin Bugaoan capped off the set with an attack, 22–25, in favor of the Tamaraws.
One of the shortcomings of the Green and White that led to the difficulty in securing a set was their undermanned back-row defense. Multiple instances of this led to free attack points from FEU, such as the one that started the fourth and final set, made by Jose Javelona, 0–1. La Salle fell victim to a repetition of the first set’s tendencies that led to their downfall. Miscommunication also hindered the Green Spikers as it took away their score-bearing opportunities. Luckily an attack error from Javelona closed the gap to a single point, 4–5. From there, the Green Spikers used their wit and chose to play strategically to score, mimicking spike approaches but proceeded to go for drop balls that caught the FEU blockers off-guard. However, the Tamaraws played the same way by utilizing and scoring off of the Taft blockers and aiming for off-the-block balls that were difficult to recover. An attack error by Kampton forced the match point in favor of FEU before Delicana sealed the game with an attack through the block, 17–25.
Following this loss, the Green Spikers keep their heads held up high and prepare themselves to face the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Golden Spikers on Sunday, February 25, 11 AM, at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Set Scores: 18–25, 25–20, 22–25, 17–25
Box Scores:
FEU 3 – Saavedra 20, Bugaoan 16, Delicana 13, Javelona 7, Nadera 5, Talisayan 5, Mendoza 4, Cacao 1, Celajes 0 (L), De Guzman 0 (L)
DLSU 1 – Maglinao 20, Ronquillo 19, Kampton 14, Anima 7, Del Pilar 4, Adajar 0, De Jesus 0, Gloria 0, Poquita 0, De Castro 0 (L), Guerrero 0 (L)
