Green Spikers triumph over San Beda in extended sets
The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Spikers (2–1) triumphed over the San Beda University (SBU) Red Spikers (0–3) in extended sets, 25–15, 25–22, 16–25, 25–21, yesterday at the Paco Arena.
The set started with a point to San Beda but a block from Nathaniel Del Pilar, a service error from Mohammad Tahilludin, and an ace from Noel Kampton gave DLSU a two-point advantage, 3–1. La Salle was then able to maintain the lead with JM Ronquillo’s through-the-block spike and Joshua Rodriguez's block, 6–2. Sensing the urgency, Ralph Cabalsa, Andrei Bakil, and Kevin Montemayor tried to step up for San Beda but the Green Spiker’s offense and defense remained undefeated. With SBU committing a net touch, La Salle was still ahead by five points during the second TTO, 16–11. The Taft-hailed team then continued to dominate the set. Ronquillo’s service ace, Rodriguez’s running shot, Kampton’s cross-court hit, and San Beda’s errors amassed DLSU’s biggest lead of the game, 23–13. A block from Kampton and Del Pilar finished the first set for La Salle with a ten-point lead, 25–15.
Aiming to ride off the momentum of the first set, Diogenes Poquita III opened the second set with a backward attack, 1–0. In the following rallies both teams traded points, but attacks from Ronquillo and Kampton gave La Salle a two-point edge, 5–3. San Beda, however, bounced back as Bakil’s attack sent the set to its first TTO, 6–8, before unforced errors tied up the set. Both teams continued to exchange unforced errors and attacks, but an ace from Cabalsa and a Green and White attack error provided SBU a two-point advantage. The Red Spikers were ahead by one as the second TTO was called, 15–16. Despite this, the Green Spikers resisted surrendering control to San Beda as collective efforts equalized the score, 19-all. The game continued to be a neck-to-neck battle, but Ronquillo and Rodriguez’s block forced San Beda to call for a timeout, 22–21. As the set came to an end, La Salle was able to preserve their advantage, as the Red Spikers made contact with the net, 25–22.
Seeking to prolong the match, the Red Spikers were more aggressive in the third set. Despite this, the Green and White managed to secure an edge before the first TTO of the set, 8–7. As the game progressed, Kampton and Ronquillo scored in succession, successfully granting La Salle a two-point advantage, 10–8. However, five consecutive points from San Beda prompted the Taft-based squad to call a timeout, 10–13. Despite DLSU’s pressing need to recover, the Red Spikers continued to maintain their lead, 13–18, resulting in another timeout request from La Salle. Unforced errors from San Beda allowed DLSU’s score to climb to 16–23. But this was still not enough for the Green Spikers to steal the set as Ronquillo’s attack error gave SBU the third set, 16–25.
The fourth set started with an attack error for La Salle but Del Pilar was able to even out the score with a quick attack, 1-all. Similar to the second set, the fourth set remained a closely contested battle. Unforced errors from Ronquillo and Vince Maglinao sent the first TTO of the set with SBU ahead by three, 5–8. In the next sequences, SBU consistently moved ahead, but the Green Spikers refused to hand the Red Spikers the reins as Kampton, Ronquillo, and Rodriguez stepped up for the team, 13-all. With an attack from Ronquillo, DLSU sent the set to its second TTO, a point ahead of SBU, 16–15. As the match went on, the Red Spikers had a hard time shifting momentum. Del Pilar’s back-to-back attacks along with a Ronquillo and Rodriguez block maintained DLSU’s advantage, forcing San Beda to call a timeout, 24–20. Aiming to prolong the game, Tahiluddin scored, but seeing the open zone at the side of San Beda, Mendoza then sealed the match, 25–21.
The DLSU Green Spikers (2–1) will aim to build a winning streak as they face off against archrivals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles (3–0), on Friday, September 1 at 12 PM at the same venue.
Set Scores: 25–15, 25–22, 16–25, 25–21
Box Scores:
DLSU 3—Ronquillo 19, Kampton 15, Maglinao 10, Del Pilar 7, Rodriguez 7, Mendoza 2, Poquita 2, Guerrero (L) 0
SBU 2 — Bakil 15, Cabalsa 15, Montemayor 11, Tahiluddin 6, Santos 6, Tolentino 2, Rus (L) 0
