La Salle’s Chris Hernandez in Game 2 of the V-League Collegiate Challenge finals against FEU.–V-LEAGUE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle revived its title-retention bid after denying Far Eastern University from sweeping the V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge finals with a 25-21, 25-19, 21-25, 25-20 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday at Philsports Arena.
Chris Hernandez powered the Green Spikers with 23 points off 17 kills, four blocks, and two aces on top of 19 excellent receptions and five excellent digs to force a do-or-die Game 3 on Friday.
La Salle also got the much-needed spark from the returning Noel Kampton, who had nine points fresh from Alas Pilipinas’ two-week training camp in Italy.
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“Added reinforcement para sa team, and at the same time, kailangan niya [Kampton] pa mag-adjust kasi bumalik lang siya yesterday. Hoping na itong remaining two days maka-adjust siya,” said La Salle coach Jose Roque.
La Salle stumbled in the third set but quickly got its act together in the fourth to equalize the series and bounce back from a four-set loss in Game 1 last Sunday.
“Happy. Somehow, it paid off lahat ng training and at the same time, ‘yun ‘yung gusto ng team—manalo. They played their best.”
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Glen Ventura was also instrumental with 12 points. Joshua Magalaman had nine points. Yoyong Mendoza and Eric Layug had seven points each. Setter Eco Adajar made 19 excellent sets, while libero Menard Guerrero tallied 13 excellent digs.
FEU couldn’t complete a series sweep despite the 18-point effort of Dryx Saavedra. Lirick Mendoza and Jelord Talisayan added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Benny Martinez had 18 excellent sets in the loss.