MONTALBAN -- De La Salle University showed composure and resilience after a tough opening-set setback, rallying past Ateneo de Manila University in four sets, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-16, to secure its third straight trip to the V-League Collegiate Challenge Finals, Saturday at the Ynares Center here.
The victory not only booked the Green Spikers a slot in the best-of-three championship series but also earned them a place in the upcoming Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference, where they will test themselves against some of the country’s top men’s volleyball teams.
After yielding the opening frame, La Salle quickly regrouped, settling into its system and taking control for the remainder of the match. With the win, the top-ranked squad eliminated the fourth-seeded Blue Eagles and sealed its third consecutive Finals appearance in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
The Green Spikers first drew blood in the semifinals with a 26-24, 22-25, 25-13, 25-18 triumph in Game 1. Ateneo, however, fought back hard in Game 2, grinding out a thrilling 28-26, 25-16, 23-25, 26-24 win to force a winner-take-all decider. But in Game 3, La Salle showed its championship pedigree, dominating from start to finish.
“They really wanted to win. Sabi nila after Game 2, nag-usap-usap sila. On their own nagplano sila eh, wala naman akong magawa na, I’m just guiding them and yeah, ‘yan na ‘yung resulta,” said La Salle head coach Jose Roque.
“Reminder lang talaga, kaming mga coaches, na to focus on what they are doing. Siguro isa ‘yun, naging wake up call sa kanila ‘yun. ‘Yung will nila na ‘hindi na namin ibibigay ‘to,” he added.
Eugene Gloria spearheaded the Green Spikers with a stellar triple-double of 22 points, 15 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions, providing stability on both offense and defense.
Rui Ventura delivered 18 points off 14 attacks, two aces, and two blocks, while Issa Osseini chipped in 15 points, including five of the team’s 10 total blocks, as La Salle controlled the net and smothered Ateneo’s attacks.
Setter Ezer Jake Regidor orchestrated the offense with 26 excellent sets alongside three points of his own, while libero Sherwin Retiro anchored the floor defense with 11 excellent receptions and six digs.
The Green Spikers now await the winner of the do-or-die semifinal clash between defending champion Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas on Monday at 5 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
For Ateneo, Amil Pacinio stood tall with 19 points and 11 excellent digs, while Matthew Salarzon and Julio Yu contributed 11 and nine markers, respectively. Reigning UAAP MVP Kennedy Batas, however, only saw action in the fourth set, finishing with a single point.
