De La Salle University braced for a crucial showdown with UAAP champion National U as it drubbed reigning NCAA titlist Perpetual Help, 27-25, 25-22, 25-21, in the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge on Sunday night at the Paco Arena.
Eco Adajar led the charge for La Salle with three points and 17 excellent sets, while Michael Fortuna produced 16 markers to power the Green Spikers past the Altas.
The Green Spikers’ victory thus set the stage for a crucial clash against the NU Bulldogs at the close of the elimination round in the preseason tournament organized by Sports Vision on Friday.
La Salle, now holding a 5-1 record, aims to tie Far Eastern U for the top seed when it faces NU on Friday at 5 p.m.
“We’re fortunate siguro dahil kahit papaano nacontrol namin yung momentum nila from the first set,” said La Salle head coach Jose Roque.
“Somehow, I may say, hindi ako ganon kasatisfied sa laro namin pero nevertheless, nagtrabaho naman yung team. Siguro credit to the team and the players na talagang nagstep up din,” he added.
Perpetual Help gave a valiant effort in the third set, tying the match at 19 after a down-the-line hit by Kobe Tabuga.
However, the Green Spikers responded with a 6-2 run, fueled by attacks from Rui Ventura and Chris Hernandez, to post the morale-boosting victory and eliminate the Altas from playoff contention.
The Altas dropped to a 2-4 record.
Tabuga and Jefferson Marapoc led Perpetual with 16 and 11 points, respectively. The Altas will close out their campaign against Ateneo on Friday at 3 p.m.
La Salle’s come-from-behind first-set win, turning a 21-24 deficit into a 27-25 triumph, set the tone for a dominant offensive display in the second set, where they outscored the Altas 17-9 in attacks to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
