DLSU Green Spikers fend off Ateneo Blue Eagles, book third straight V-League Finals berth

The DLSU Green Spikers secured their third consecutive V-League Collegiate Challenge Finals appearance by defeating the Ateneo Blue Eagles in a four-set match with scores of 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-16 at the Ynares Center. This victory also earned them a berth in the upcoming Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference, where they will compete against top men's volleyball teams in the country.

After losing the opening set, La Salle demonstrated composure and resilience, quickly regrouping to dominate the remainder of the match. This win eliminated the fourth-seeded Ateneo team and highlighted their strong performance in the semifinals, which had gone to a decisive Game 3 after splitting the first two matches: La Salle won Game 1 (26-24, 22-25, 25-13, 25-18), while Ateneo took Game 2 (28-26, 25-16, 23-25, 26-24).

Key players were instrumental in La Salle's success, with Eugene Gloria delivering a triple-double of 22 points, 15 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions. Glen Ventura contributed 18 points, and Issa Osseini added 15 points, including five blocks, as the team controlled the net and stifled Ateneo's attacks. Setter Ezer Jake Regidor orchestrated the offense with 26 excellent sets, and libero Sherwin Retiro anchored the defense with 11 excellent receptions and six digs.

La Salle head coach Jose Roque praised the team's determination, noting that the players took initiative after Game 2 to plan and focus, which he credited for the positive outcome. He emphasized that the loss served as a wake-up call, strengthening their will to win.

For Ateneo, Amil Pacinio led with 19 points and 11 excellent digs, supported by Matthew Salarzon with 11 points and Julio Yu with nine points. However, reigning UAAP MVP Kennedy Batas saw limited action, scoring only one point in the fourth set.

The Green Spikers now await the winner of the semifinal between Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas to determine their opponent in the best-of-three championship series.