MANILA — De La Salle University ended its UAAP Season 88 men’s volleyball campaign on a high note after denying defending champion National University an outright semifinal bonus with a dramatic five-set win, 16-25, 26-24, 20-25, 26-24, 17-15, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite already being out of Final Four contention, the Green Spikers showed resilience and pride, with Chris Emmanuel Hernandez and Uriel Mendoza leading the charge with 17 points each. The victory marked La Salle’s second win over NU this season, having earlier beaten the Bulldogs in another five-set encounter.
Head coach Jose Roque praised his squad’s resolve, noting their effort to finish the season strongly despite facing challenges throughout the year.
Supporting the offense were Eugene Gloria with 16 points, Eric Paulo with 11, and contributions from Michael John Fortuna and Issa Ousseini.
NU, meanwhile, was powered by Leo Ordinales’ 28-point explosion and Jade Alex Disquitado’s 19 points but fell short in the deciding set after a tight finish. The Bulldogs remain in contention for a No. 2 finish depending on their final match against UST.
The fifth set saw both teams locked in a tight exchange before La Salle escaped at the finish line, capping off a hard-earned victory in front of a competitive crowd.
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