The De La Salle Green Spikers celebrate a point against Ateneo in the semifinals of the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, October 4, 2025 at the Ynares Center in Montalban. PVL Media
MANILA -- De La Salle University recovered from its first loss and overcame a gritty Ateneo squad to advance to the Finals of the V-League Collegiate Challenge, Saturday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
The Green Spikers recovered an opening set loss to eventually eliminate the Blue Eagles, 22-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-16, for their third straight championship appearance in the tournament.
By making it to the best-of-three Finals, La Salle has also earned a spot in the upcoming Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference.
After yielding the opening frame, La Salle quickly regrouped, settling into its system and taking control for the remainder of the match.
The Green Spikers first drew blood in the semifinals with a 26-24, 22-25, 25-13, 25-18 triumph in Game 1. Ateneo, however, fought back hard in Game 2, grinding out a thrilling 28-26, 25-16, 23-25, 26-24 win to force a winner-take-all decider.
READ: Ateneo ends La Salle's unbeaten run to stay in Finals hunt
"They really wanted to win. Sabi nila after Game 2, nag-usap-usap sila. On their own nagplano sila eh, wala naman akong magawa na, I'm just guiding them and yeah, 'yan na 'yung resulta," said La Salle head coach Jose Roque.
"Reminder lang talaga, kaming mga coaches, na to focus on what they are doing. Siguro isa 'yun, naging wake up call sa kanila 'yun. 'Yung will nila na 'hindi na namin ibibigay 'to," he added.
Eugene Gloria spearheaded the Green Spikers with a stellar triple-double of 22 points, 15 excellent digs, and 15 excellent receptions, providing stability on both offense and defense.
Glen Ventura delivered 18 points off 14 attacks, two aces, and two blocks, while Issa Osseini chipped in 15 points, including five of the team's 10 total blocks, as La Salle controlled the net and smothered Ateneo's attacks.
Setter Ezer Jake Regidor orchestrated the offense with 26 excellent sets alongside three points of his own, while libero Sherwin Retiro anchored the floor defense with 11 excellent receptions and six digs.
La Salle will play Far Eastern University in the championship round that starts on Monday at 5 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
For Ateneo, Amil Pacinio stood tall with 19 points and 11 excellent digs, while Matthew Salarzon and Julio Yu contributed 11 and nine markers, respectively. Reigning UAAP MVP Kennedy Batas, however, only saw action in the fourth set, finishing with a single point.