Patriots hold off Vanguard in UCAA tilt

DASMARIÑAS, Philippines – Veteran setter Abdul Alkasim came off the bench in the third set to lead the defending champion La Salle-Dasmariñas Patriots past the Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite Vanguard, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16, 25-11.

Alkasim’s timely entry allowed the Patriots to overcome the Vanguard’s home-court advantage as they pulled off their second straight win in the men’s division of the 11th Universities and College Athletic Association (UCAA) volleyball tournament at the EAC-Cavite gymnasium.

The 20-year-old Alkasim came into the picture right after the Vanguard evened matters out in the second set, 25-19.

He scored three points on serves and got the Patriots’ game going on a faster pace as they eventually moved away, 7-2, with Joel Villanueva supporting Alkasim at the backline.

The Patriots will shoot for their third consecutive triumph when they play the Central College of the Philippines Bobcats at the Ugnayang La Salle gymnasium inside the DLSU-Dasmariñas campus on Friday.

Alvin Kasim then eked out four points off his serves as the Patriots took a 10-point lead, 13-3, in the third set.

In the final set, Villanueva joined hands with Hudri Kona to hand the Patriots an 11-3 edge.

“Puro kasi second stringers ang ipinasok ko nu’ng second set. Pero nu’ng nandoon na iyung setter namin, doon bumilis iyung laro,” said Patriots coach Fidel Rojales.

Unplayable conditions during heavy rains and a moist indoor court surface kept Olivarez College and the CCP Bobcats from finishing their match.