De La Salle improved to 11-3 in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament on Saturday and will take on the NU Bulldogs in a playoff for no. 2.
Noel Kampton delivered the finishing blows as De La Salle edged UST, 25-20, 25-27, 25-20, 25-18, to end the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament on Saturday, April 27, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kampton scored four points in the crucial stretch of the fourth, including one that put the Green Spikers at match point, before Josh Ybañez’s spike went long for UST as DLSU grabbed the victory.
More importantly, the Green Spikers now set up a playoff for the no. 2 spot and the twice-to-beat advantage against the defending champion NU Bulldogs.
Both finished with identical 11-3 records after the elimination round and will now duel in a virtual best-of-3 for the right to make the UAAP Finals.
Kampton finished with 18 points, while JM Ronquillo and Vince Maglinao churned out 21 and 19 points, respectively.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, we have nothing to lose but more to gain. Yun sa tingin kong nakuha namin, yung gawin namin best namin para maka gain kami,” said coach Jose Roque.
Ybañez finished with game-high 24 points as the Golden Tigers dropped to 8-6. Last year's finalists will enter the Final Four as the no. 4 team, taking on FEU.
Errors continue to be the major weakness for UST, as the team ended up with 27 in the loss.
GBoy De Vega and Sherwin Umandal had 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Golden Spikers.