As the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge heats up, De La Salle University captain Menard Guerrero is rallying his team to peak at the perfect time. With the Green Spikers securing a commanding sweep of the University of Perpetual Help Altas, Guerrero’s focus has shifted to their next challenge—a crucial showdown against reigning UAAP champions, National University (NU).
The stakes couldn't be higher. La Salle’s 5-1 record places them in a strong position, and a win against NU would tie them with Far Eastern University for the top seed in the four-team playoffs, which kick off next week. For Guerrero, the Green Spikers’ fate depends not just on their individual skills, but on their chemistry and cohesion as a team.
"Siguro yung chemistry pa. Kasi skills individually meron na ‘eh, kaso hindi pa kami nagsasabay-sabay,” said Guerrero, reflecting on their current performance. “Pag nagsabay-sabay na kami, tsaka siguro namin malalaman kung hanggang saan na siguro yung team namin."
As the reigning UAAP Best Libero, Guerrero has been instrumental in La Salle’s defensive efforts, contributing eight digs and five receptions in the sweep of Perpetual. However, he knows that defensive prowess and individual talent alone won’t be enough if they want to keep their title hopes alive in the pre-season tournament organized by Sports Vision.
For La Salle to fully realize its potential, Guerrero emphasized the importance of team chemistry and executing the coaches’ game plan. While their recent performance showed promise, he admitted there’s still work to be done.
“‘Yung ginagawa ko, okay naman, kaso I feel like kulang pa kasi hindi pa nattranslate ng team namin yung gusto ko at gusto ng coaches ko,” Guerrero said candidly. “Pero getting there naman. Sa training, nagagawa namin nang paunti-unti, pero kulang pa.”
A significant part of building that chemistry lies in guiding La Salle’s promising rookie class. Guerrero is keenly aware that the team’s younger players—such as Joshua Magalaman, Rui Ventura, Chris Hernandez, Michael Fortuna, and Eugene Gloria—must adjust quickly to the intensity of college-level volleyball.
“Sobrang mabilis at madali naman sila maguide, kaso ang nawawala sa rookies namin ay yung maturity inside the court,” Guerrero noted. “Pero kung paano namin sila i-handle, sobrang mabilis at madali lang, so kailangan lang talaga ng rookies namin ng touches at playing time.”
Guerrero’s leadership, combined with the team’s steady development, has La Salle in a favorable position heading into the playoffs. However, their real test will come in their highly anticipated clash with National University, where the Green Spikers will need to bring their best to match the reigning champions.
With the stakes rising and the playoffs just around the corner, Guerrero remains optimistic that La Salle’s chemistry will continue to build, setting the stage for a deep postseason run. Should they find their rhythm at the right time, the Green Spikers have the potential to not only challenge NU but also stake their claim as serious contenders for the V-League crown.
As La Salle heads into their pivotal match, Guerrero’s message is clear—individual skills will only take them so far, but true success will come when the Green Spikers unite as one.
