NU posts 6th straight win, downs La Salle in UAAP men’s volleyball

MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion National University nailed 18 kill blocks to beat La Salle, 25-20, 25-16, 23-25, 25-21, and end the first round with a six-game winning streak in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 90-minute delay due to technical issues on the taraflex installment didn’t stop the Bulldogs from ending the round with a 6-1 record as Leo Aringo picked the perfect time for his breakout game, leading the way with 20 points built on 18 kills and two blocks.

Jade Disquitado fired 19 points and tallied 13 excellent receptions for NU, while Nico Almendras had 13 points and 25 excellent receptions to beat La Salle in an hour and 46 minutes.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 86 volleyball first round

Obed Mukaba and Rwenzmel Taguibolos hosted NU’s block party with five blocks each to finish with 10 and nine points, respectively, as setter Owa Retamar dished out 22 excellent sets on top of five points.

“Our team has been doing well so far with six straight wins. We encountered few problems in terms of unforced errors but we have to continue maximizing our offense,” said NU coach Dante Alinsunurin in Filipino. “I hope we can continue improving our game in practice and adjusting to different kinds of situations.”

La Salle’s two-game winning streak was snapped by the ‘four-peat’-seeking Bulldogs, ending the first round with a 5-2 record despite JM Ronquillo’s 22-point effort.

Vince Maglinao also stepped up for the Green Spikers with 13 points, while Noel Kampton was limited to nine points.

READ: NU, La Salle force three-way tie on top in UAAP men’s volleyball

Meanwhile, last year’s runner-up University of Santo Tomas leaned on the duo of Josh Ybañez and Gboy De Vega to overcome the hard-fighting Adamson in five sets, 25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-10, and end the first round with two consecutive wins.

Ybañez, the reigning MVP, led the charge for the Golden Spikers with 24 points, 26 excellent receptions, and six digs, while De Vega chipped in 20 points and 20 receptions to improve to a 4-3 record in fourth place.

READ: UST snaps 3-game skid at expense of UP in UAAP men’s volleyball

“I’m happy because we were able to show our determination to win this game. This is a character-building win,” said Ybañez in Filipino.

Jay Rack De La Noche and Paul Colinares were also instrumental with 10 points each, as Rainer Flor and Sherwin Umandal had seven points each.

Adamson ended the round with a 3-4 record with Francis Casas leading the way with 15 points. John Gay had 14 points and 14 receptions, while Pau Paulino added 12 points.