La Salle Green Spikers.–UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Vince Maglinao, JM Ronquillo, and Noel Kampton formed a potent trio as La Salle stunned three-time defending champion National University, 25-19, 25-18, 31-33, 27-25, on Sunday to secure at least a playoff for a berth in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball Final Four at Mall of Asia Arena.
Maglinao unleashed 22 points, Ronquillo, who missed the previous game due to illness, had 19 points, while Kampton delivered 18 points, 22 excellent receptions, and seven digs to help La Salle improve to 8-3 just a half-game behind No. 3 NU (9-3).
“The third set wasn’t really for us. We committed a lot of errors but we still fought hard. In the fourth, we fought back and Thank God we got it,” said Maglinao in Filipino.
SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball second round
Tied at 25-all in the fourth set, Kampton broke NU’s net defense to reach the set point before Nathaniel Del Pilar’s game-winning hit off a floating ball to complete their big win.
Del Pilar scored 12 points for La Salle, which banked on setter Eco Adajar dishing out 22 excellent sets.
“We really wanted to win. I told them to remove all the doubts and give their all,” said La Salle coach Jose Roque.
NU banked on Nico Almendras, who dropped 22 points, 39-of-51 excellent receptions, and 12 digs went for naught. Michaelo Buddin added 16 points — his best game of the season.
READ: UAAP men’s volleyball: FEU exhausts La Salle in five-setter
Meanwhile, Ateneo stayed in the Final Four hunt after beating the also-ran University of the East, 25-17, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, to end a two-game skid and improve to a 6-6 record behind No.4 University of Santo Tomas (7-5).
Ken Batas delivered the goods for the Blue Eagles with 25 points and eight digs. Jian Salarzon tallied 16 points and 22 excellent receptions, while Jettlee Gopio added 13 points.
“Like what I explained to them, whatever happened yesterday and whatever is happening now in the men’s league, at least there’s a window that is opening an opportunity for us to get into that Final Four so I reminded the players that we receive another chance so we need to work hard for it,” said Ateneo coach Timmy Sto. Tomas in Filipino. “We can’t just wait and [expect] it will be served to us on a silver platter.”
UE lost its 10th in 11 matches with Angelo Reyes and Steven Aligayon leading the way with 12 points.