Green Spikers pull off an upset against NU
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers (8–3) pulled off an upset against the second-seeded National University (NU) Bulldogs (9–2) in four sets, 25–19, 25–18, 31–33, 27–25, earlier today at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
After losing against the Bulldogs multiple times in the previous UAAP Season 85 and pre-season tournaments, a team effort propelled La Salle forward against the title contenders in a four-set spectacle. Vince Maglinao led the way for DLSU with 22 points, closely followed by JM Ronquillo with 19 and Noel Kampton with 18. NU’s Nico Almendras and Buds Buddin scored 22 and 16, respectively, but the 30 total errors of the Bulldogs were too much as the Lasallians took home the victory.
The first set began with an early barrage of arrows from the Green Spikers led by Maglinao, Noel Kampton, and JM Ronquillo, creating a six-point cushion at 8–2 against the Bulldogs. From then, NU attempted to lift their spirits with Owa Retamar commanding plays to cut the lead to three at 11–14, but the Bulldogs could not hold back Ronquillo’s flurry of attacks, forcing an NU timeout. After the timeout, the Lasallians kept the pressure on with Maglinao at the service line, increasing the gap to eight, 20–12. Almendras from NU tried to rally the Bulldogs to close the gap, but Nat Del Pilar stepped on the gas and added to DLSU’s advantage with quick attacks and blocks, leading by eight at 22–14. As the first set point was claimed by La Salle, Leo Aringo, Rwenzmel Taguibolos, and Obed Mukaba suddenly erupted for kills and blocks to spark an NU run, forcing DLSU to a timeout at 24–19. With the set at hand, Eco Adajar and Maglinao came up with a quick play to secure the first set, 25–19.
Down 1–0 in sets, the Bulldogs awakened their senses in the second set, emerging with an early two-point run against DLSU led by Jade Disquitado and Aringo. However, the Green Spikers fought back and tied it at two-all with Kampton’s kills. From then on, the teams traded blows and exchanged kills where NU took the lead at 3–5, but the Lasallians then went on a four-point run at the hands of Billie Anima, Kampton, and Ronquillo, 7–5. The Bulldogs fought to close the gap with Aringo’s and Buddin’s kills, but the Lasallians refused to give, keeping the advantage, 15–14. Momentum favored DLSU as Kampton secured a four-point Lasallian run before the Green and White erupted for another three more points to force an NU timeout at 18–14. Looking to go up two sets to nothing, the Lasallians increased the separation to six via Del Pilar’s blocks and NU’s errors, but Buddin stopped the bleeding at 22–17. Despite the effort, the Lasallians solidified their intensity and held onto the lead, soon securing the second set, 25–18, with a Ronquillo quick attack.
With the set advantage of 2–0, the Green Spikers held the game’s momentum. However, the Bulldogs clapped back early on the third set with a four-point barrage at the hands of Buddin and Aringo, 0–4. La Salle refused to let up as Ronquillo and Maglinao took charge landing hits to cut the lead to to just one, 5–6. The air suddenly tightened at the MOA arena, as neither team wanted to give the lead with the score tied up from 8-all to 16-all until Almendras’ attacks gave the lead to NU, 16–18. Kampton and Ronquillo fought back with a kill off the block and a block, respectively to equalize the score again. From there, the intensity of the match heightened even more as another deadlock occurred before Maglinao made a monster block, 21–20. Likewise, NU emerged with a three-point run from Buddin and Jenngerard Diao to take the lead at 21–23, then later notching set point. A Maglinao attack set up momentum for the Lasallians to equalize at 24-all, forcing an extended set. From there, both teams traded blows at the net, with Ronquillo holding the reins for La Salle and Buddin for NU. A series of deadlocks commenced for a while until a foot fault was called on Maglinao, giving NU a one-point lead. But Maglinao swiftly reclaimed the lost point with a kill to tie it at 30-all. Refusing to let up, Buddin erupted with a kill that Maglinao traded with, tying up the score again at 31. NU’s Abanilla suddenly erupted with a back-row kill to give them the lead. Despite excellent reception and transitioning to the set play from Adajar to Ronquillo, the captain's kill went out, securing the third set for NU, 31–33.
The fourth set began with the Green Spikers setting their eyes on victory. However, despite securing two quick points to begin the set, NU quickly answered back to tie it at two-all at the command of Retamar. A similar story then emerged where both teams exchanged blows at the net as Anima, Ronquillo, and Del Pilar sparked the Lasallians’ momentum with a four-point burst to lead at 10–6. Following this, Almendras stepped on the gas pedal to propel the Bulldogs closer, scoring three straight points to close in at 11–10. From there, the Lasallians went all out to maintain the cushion as Kampton and Ronquillo traded kills with Almendras and Buddin. Neither team wanted to give the lead, with Diao generating blocks that towered over La Salle and Maglinao penetrating the NU defense. Down by one, NU suddenly scored from a crucial free ball, 20–22. An attack from Maglinao was called outside, but DLSU challenged for a block touch which was deemed successful to be within one from the Bulldogs. A crucial attack error from Buddin tied the score again, but a kill from the same spiker placed the score at 22–23. Despite this, Kampton refused to give in and scored an attack off the NU block, 23-all, but Almendras responded with an off-the-block hit to take back the lead, 23–24. After a timeout, Kampton landed a cross-court kill to force another deadlock and extend the set. A Del Pilar block put La Salle ahead, but an Almendras hit in the following sequence equalized the score again. Hungry to win, Kampton exploded for a kill, to give La Salle a match point at 26–25. With Kampton serving for the match, NU battled DLSU at the net. But a Del Pilar drop shot soon capped off the match. NU challenged the call with a foot fault challenge, but this ended up unsuccessful, granting DLSU the fourth set at 27–25, and the victory in 3–1 sets.
Catch the Green Spikers back in action this April 17, 10 AM against the Adamson University (AdU) Falcons at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Set scores: 25–19, 25–18, 31–33, 27–25
Box scores:
DLSU 3— Maglinao 22, Ronquillo 19, Kampton 18, Del Pilar 12, Anima 4, Adajar 3
NU 1 — Almendras 22, Buddin 16, Taguibolos 8, Aringo 7, Diao 6, Abanilla 4, Disquitado 4, Retamar 4, Mukaba 2
