La Salle regrouped just in time to hack out a five-set decision over University of the Philippines, 25-22, 24-26, 15-25, 25-13, 15-13, and nail the second spot in Group B in the Spikers’ Turf Collegiate Conference Wednesday at Filoil Flying V Arena.
The Green Archers rose from a 1-2 set deficit with John Arjay Onia and Raymark Woo spearheading the attack by combining for more than half of the team’s 60 spikes.
“We just showed composure in the end,” said La Salle coach Ronald Dulay.
The Archers, who will head into the quarterfinals riding on a four-game winning streak, wrapped up their elimination stint with a 4-1 slate behind group leader Ateneo.
National College of Business and Arts (NCBA) also survived a gruelling five-setter versus University of the East, 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 18-25, 16-14, to finish third with a 3-2 card in Group A.
20 kills
Onia, who scored a team-best effort in every category, had 20 kills, three blocks and a couple of aces in a 25-point performance.
Woo delivered 17 points, 15 coming off spikes, while Mike Anthony Frey added 12 points for the Archers, who overwhelmed the Maroons on attacks, 60-38.
The NCBA Wildcats delivered a strong finish anchored on Reyson Fuentes, Ralph Jonnel Oclima and Jason Canlas after the winless Warriors fought back from a 0-2 set deficit to forge a deciding set.
Fuentes scored all but one of his 12 points on attacks, while Oclima finished with 11 each.
National University, Emilio Aguinaldo College and Far Eastern University also earned quarterfinal slots in Group A, while Ateneo and St. Benilde round out the Group B teams advancing to the next round.
Ateneo and St. Benilde were still playing at presstime.
The eight squads will carry over their elimination records to the quarterfinals, where they will clash only with the teams from the other group.