De La Salle University Green Spiker Noel Kampton was all over the stat sheet when he led his team to victory against the defending champions, the National University Bulldogs, 25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 25-17, at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, March 23.

Kampton scored 25 points on 21 attacks, two blocks, and two aces as they avenged their first-round loss to the Bulldogs. After the game, the graduating open spiker credited his son Leon for added motivation, aside from wanting to give his alma mater a podium finish before he graduated.

“Sobrang dagdag motivation. ‘Yung wife ko, sobrang pagod din mag-alaga sa baby. ‘Yung yaya namin, kapag wala kami, sila nag-aalaga,” Kampton was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times. He tied the knot with Abbe San Juna in August 2024, and they now have a three-month-old baby named Leon.

Kampton added, “After the game, dati nakaka-chill pa ako. Ngayon, uwi agad ng bahay, babantayan ko si baby Leon ko. Nakakatuwa lang kasi may inuuwian ako. Kahit pagod ka, kapag makita mo ‘yung baby mong mag-smile, sobrang tanggal ‘yung pagod. Ngayong panalo pa, mas walang pagod.”

Kampton could not hide his happiness as they finally won on what could have been his last game against the Bulldogs as a Green Spiker.

“Overwhelmed ako talaga. Playing against NU, possible na last ko na representing La Salle, sobrang saya ko lang. Kasi nung first game namin sa UAAP, NU rin – talo kami. Hindi ako nakatulog, ang daming nangba-bash sa akin, ang daming nangba-bash sa team namin, kesyo ganito kami. Ginawa ko lang motivation na sige, sige lang, kunin lang namin ‘yung rhythm namin. Kahit papaano nakaka-connect kami. Nakakatuwa lang talaga,” he admitted.

Despite their victory, Noel said he and the team are focused on bringing the Green Archers to the podium.

“Gusto ko talaga makapag-podium kasi ilang years na ako sa UAAP, wala pa akong podium. Syempre podium tapos next no’n, graduation siyempre,” he said.

Here are other stories you’ve probably missed on the first weekend of the second round of eliminations:

Leading MVP candidate Ken Batas gives credit to team chemistry

At the end of the first round of eliminations, Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle ace spiker Kennedy Batas led the MVP race in the men’s division with 160.370 statistical points as he was the best scorer with 142 points, fourth best spiker with 45.52% efficiency, fourth best server with 0.37 ace per set, and eighth best digger with 1.44 excellent dig per set.

Despite these statistics, Batas is focused on getting the bigger prize – a return to the final four after six years for the Katipunan-based squad.

“Parang reward lang talaga siya ng hard work ng team, pero hindi ko masyadong iniisip kung ano ‘yung points or na leading ako sa MVP. Ang focus ko lang talaga ay sa team – kung paano ako makaka-contribute,” Batas was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times.

“Pero ‘yung success ko na ito, hindi rin overnight. Lagi ko winowork-on ito every training, kung paano maitatama ‘yung lapses namin nung first round and in the past two seasons,” added the third-year player.

The Blue Eagles currently stand in the middle of the standings with a 5-3 win-loss record, but Batas always reminds his team that the fight is not yet over.

He said, “I’ll continue to remind them na hindi pa tapos ang laban. Every day, kailangan namin may matutunan at dapat prepared kami sa lahat ng games kung gusto naming makapasok sa Final Four.

Ariel Cacao says FEU still lingers on last year’s defeat against UST

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws swept the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers in the elimination round. The Tamaraws defeated the Golden Spikers, 20-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-20, in their first match up. In their second head-to-head, the Morayta-based squad swept their España-based neighbor, 26-24, 25-23, 25-19.

Despite these victories, Tamaraws third-year setter Ariel Cacao admitted that the team’s back-to-back loss in the Final Four in Season 86 still lingers.

“Sa akin, hindi pa rin, e, kasi kindi pa natatapos, may semis pa or may finals pa. Kaya hanggang hindi natatapos, hindi pa rin kami dapat mapanatag. ‘Yung loob namin, hindi dapat gumaan ‘yung pakiramdam. Hindi pa rin dapat mapanatag,” Cacao was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times.

In Season 86, the Tamaraws had a twice-to-beat advantage as they faced the Golden Spikers in the final four. Unfortunately, the Golden Spikers defeated them twice, which made the Tamaraws settle for bronze.

The Tamaraws are still undefeated at 8-0, but Cacao always reminded his wards that they should always give their 100% to avoid a meltdown.

He said, “Same pa rin sa sinasabi ko tulad nung first round na huwag namin hintayin na matalo kami bago kami mag-grind pa. Sinasabi ko sa kanila every training na ibigay natin ‘yung 100% natin, kasi ito ‘yung magdidikta sa ilalaro namin sa actual game.”

Jude Aguilar’s teammates finally stepped up

As the Adamson University Soaring Falcons opened the second round of eliminations against the University of the East Red Warriors, ace spiker Jude Aguilar finally did not have to carry most of the scoring load as four other players scored in double digits.

Before their win against the Red Warriors, Aguilar had been carrying the scoring load for the San Marcelino-based squad – scoring a game-high 27 points in their four-set loss against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and a game-high 26 points in their heartbreaking five-set loss against the National University Bulldogs.

“Nung past two games namin, sobrang sakit no’n para sa amin sa team namin since ginagawa namin lahat pero kinapos kami gawa nung wala masyadong teamwork ‘yung team namin,” Aguilar was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times.

Now, Aguilar can finally breathe as Dan Gutierrez, Mark Coguimbal, Marc Paulino, and Ricardo Obeda finally found their groove for much-needed help.

“Sobrang laing tulong ‘pag lahat kami gumagawa sa court kasi hindi ko rin talaga kinakaya ‘yung pagod ‘pag mag-isa lang. Good thing na nandito si Leo tsaka si Lourenz (Domingo, setter) para matulungan na ako.”