La Salle’s Noel Kampton against UP’s blockers in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball tournament. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — With De La Salle University’s postseason aspirations hanging in the balance, graduating spikers Vince Maglinao and Noel Kampton made sure that the Green Spikers will play in the UAAP Season 87 men’s volleyball Final 4.

The duo of Kampton and Maglinao proved this hunger by leading La Salle through the gallant stand of the already-eliminated University of the Philippines in five thrilling sets, 11-25, 25-18, 25-21, 28-30, 15-9, Sunday afternoon, at the Araneta Coliseum.

For the third consecutive season since Season 85 in 2023, the men’s division Final Four picture will be composed of Far Eastern University, the National University, the University of Santo Tomas, and the Green Spikers, respectively.

In doing so, La Salle not only improved to an 8-4 win-loss card for joint-third place alongside UST, but they also eliminated Ateneo de Manila University from the postseason festivities. This will mark the third consecutive year that the Blue Eagles will miss the Final Four -- a drought that began in Season 85.

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“With the game, I think trinabaho naman talaga namin, pero gaya nung sinasabi ko sa team ko, kung sino yung nasa harap, gagawa talaga yan ng paraan just to beat us, kaya kailangan natin lumaban talaga. ‘Yon lang yung reminder namin sa kanila, and nagrespond naman yung team,” Green Spikers head coach Jose Roque said.

De La Salle hopes to finally reach the podium after missing the bus in the last two seasons.

A denial by Nigerian wing spiker Olayemi Raheem on Maglinao and another block from Dan Nicolas gave UP a 7-5 head start in the decisive fifth set, but La Salle held on and displayed remarkable composure in the clutch.

After falling victim to a pivotal 10-2 surge in the Fighting Maroons’ first set triumph, the Green Spikers exacted revenge at the most pristine time, mounting a similar run of their own -- starting with two straight Maglinao attacks, a block and crosscourt hit by Rui Ventura, then a net touch by Nicolas to build a 12-8 cushion that proved to be too steep to overcome.

Kampton nailed a crosscourt hit, then Ventura followed it up with a block before the former nailed the game-winning crosscourt attack to officially clinch La Salle’s third consecutive trip to the Final 4 since Season 85.

“Hindi ko tinatake as negative yung nangyari na umabot sa fifth set kasi what if sa Final Four, may games na fifth sets din kami, kaya at least ready kami. Hindi kami sanay kasi maglaro sa fifth set dati, kaya ang ganda rin ng pinakita namin,” Kampton said, who fueled the Green Spikers with 24 points on 22 attacks with 15 excellent receptions and five digs.

Ventura backed up Kampton with 16 points on 14 attacks and five excellent digs, while Season 86 2nd Best Middle Blocker Nat del Pilar added 11 points on eight attacks and three blocks.

Maglinao provided an all-around performance with 16 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs, while Eric Layug also scored seven points on six attacks.

Eco Adajar orchestrated La Salle’s offense with 24 excellent sets to go along with nine excellent digs, while Season 86 Best Libero and team captain Menard Guerrero achieved 15 excellent digs and 15 excellent digs.

After the league’s eight-day Holy Week break, the Green Spikers will next face the also-ran Adamson University Soaring Falcons come Wednesday, April 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Raheem poured in 25 points on 22 attacks in the losing effort, while Nicolas tallied 16 points on 12 attacks and four blocks as the struggles continued for the Fighting Maroons, absorbing their second consecutive defeat to fall to a 3-9 slate with two games left in the preliminaries.

Rookie hitter Tommy Castrodes was limited to 11 points on 11-of-37 attack efficiency but still contributed 17 excellent receptions and nine excellent digs, while Lipata had 10 points, and 18 excellent receptions.

Angelo Aballe tossed 30 excellent sets in the loss.

UP will return from the Holy Week break in a clash against UST also on Wednesday, April 23, at the same Pasay venue.