Green Spikers open UAAP S86 campaign with victory against AdU
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers (1–0) opened their UAAP Season 86 campaign with a straight-set victory against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons (0–1), 25–22, 25–23, 26–24, earlier today at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Player of the Game (POG) was awarded to Team Captain John Mark Ronquillo after garnering a total of 18 points from 16 attacks, one block, and an ace in the win.
In the opening set, Ronquillo got La Salle on the scoreboard with a powerful attack following consecutive scores from the Falcons. With both teams striving to catch up, the Taft-based squad capitalized on Adamson’s errors, maintaining a lead of 12–8. The combined efforts of Noel Kampton and Ronquillo hits further widened the gap between the two teams to 14–11. Kampton’s determination became evident as he secured multiple consecutive points for La Salle, 17–14. Then the formidable duo of Kampton and Ronquillo demonstrated their dominance again as they helped the Green and White get to set point. Finally, Kampton sealed the set with a decisive down-the-line attack, 25–22.
Similar to the first set, Ronquillo initiated the second set with an attack following consecutive scores from the Falcons, coupled with a block, tying the score at 2-all. Despite Adamson maintaining a constant lead, La Salle managed to narrow the gap by capitalizing on Adamson’s errors and executing attack points through Kampton and Ronquillo, 12-all. Both teams then engaged in several exchanges of points, with joint attacks and blocks scored by Billie Anima, Kampton, Vince Maglinao, and Ronquillo, bringing the score to 19–18. Following an Adamson attack error and a powerful spike by Jerico Adajar, Kampton’s soft touch brought the Taft-based squad to set point. Soon, Team Captain Ronquillo finished the set with a decisive down-the-line hit, 25–23, bringing the Green and White’s advantage to two sets.
For the final set of the match, the Falcons managed to score twice before a spike from Nath Del Pilar halted their momentum, but a service error from Kampton equalized the score at 2-all. Trailing by two points, La Salle responded with spikes from Anima and Ronquillo, the latter once again delivered a down-the-line spike to regain the lead for the men in green, 4–2. From there, both teams engaged in exchanges of points through attacks, blocks, and errors, until Joel Menor extended Adamson’s lead to 16–18. However, the trio of Anima, Del Pilar, and Kampton managed to narrow the score gap to 19–20. As Adamson approached set point, the Green Spikers maintained their momentum with a series of down-the-line hits, forcing the set to extend to 24-all. La Salle soon was at match point, before Kampton secured the triumph with a powerful spike that resulted in a block touch on the opposing side of the court, concluding the match, 26–24.
The Green Spikers will aim to build a winning streak as they face off against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws on February 21, 10 AM, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Set Scores: 25–22, 25–23, 26–24
Box Scores:
DLSU 3 — Kampton 19, Ronquillo 18, Maglinao 8, Anima 4, Del Pilar 4, Adajar 2, Poquita 2, Guerrero (L) 0
AdU 0 — Menor 12, Paulino 11, Gay 10, Aguilar 7, Cogumbal 3, Domingo 2, Casas 1, Canlas (L) 0, Ramirez (L) 0
