Green Spikers subdue PCU
The EcoOil-La Salle Green Spikers (2–0) sudbued the SASKIN-Philippine Christian University (PCU) Dasmariñas Dolphins (0–2), 25–21, 25–21, 25–18, earlier today at the Paco Arena. This result marked La Salle’s second win in Pool B for their 2023 Spiker’s Turf Invitational campaign.
Player of the Game (POG) was awarded to Rui Ventura after garnering 13 total points in the victory.
The Green Spikers quickly made work in the first set via a 4–0 run, with the points coming from the Dolphins’ errors. The set continued with attack points from Uge Gloria, JJ Rodriguez, and Ventura before entering into the first technical timeout (TTO), 8–3. The Dolphins slowly caught up to cut down La Salle’s lead to three, 10–7, but was quickly answered back by La Salle via back-to-back points courtesy of Yoyong Mendoza and Rodriguez, before eventually entering the second TTO, 14–8. Ventura’s block and the Dolphins’ errors led La Salle to lead by five points. PCU challenged for a possible ball in/ball out against DLSU after a block by Nath Del Pilar, and was deemed successful, 18–11. La Salle soon clinched the first set after a Rodriguez attack, 25–18.
The second set started with the Dolphins challenging the Green and White for a possible net touch but this was deemed unsuccessful, 1–0. Before the first TTO, the greens maintained their momentum after a series of attack points by Gloria and Rodriguez together with a back-to-back killer block by Gloria and a Ventura-Del Pilar combo, 8–3. Unforced errors from the Dolphins and combined scores of Gene Poquita and Gloria, extended the Taft-based squad’s lead to 16–7. La Salle then continued to take advantage of the unforced errors of PCU, ballooning the lead to ten. Gloria then finished the set with a block, 25–11, securing La Salle a two-set advantage.
Much like the previous set, the third set started with back-to-back points from the Green Spikers, courtesy of Andre Espejo spikes, 2–0. But PCU was able to counter quickly, scoring back-to-back points, before Ventura responded with attacks of his own to take the lead again, 5–4. The joint efforts of spikes by Gloria and Ventura allowed La Salle to enter the TTO with a two-point advantage, 8–6. Del Pilar then made consecutive quicks before the scores equalized at 15-all after PCU caught up. Ventura however quickly came alive again, to take back the lead, 16–15. Even with PCU managing to catch up in the latter portion of the set, a Gloria kill and Mendoza strong attack soon sealed the victory, 25–22.
The Green Spikers will aim to continue their winning streak as they face MKA-San Beda University (SBU) on November 12, 5 PM, at the same venue.
Set scores: 25–18, 25–11, 25–22
Box Scores:
DLSU 3 — Gloria 14, Ventura 13, Rodriguez 7, Del Pilar 4, Espejo 3, Marata 1, Poquita 1, De Castro (L) 0, Guerrero (L) 0
PCU 0 — Agatep 10, Honra 10, Dela Cruz 5, Jul Lara 1, Sean Lara 1, Gabrido (L) 0, Sagun (L) 0
