MANILA — De La Salle University triumphed over Far Eastern University (FEU) in a closely contested five-set encounter, winning 29-27, 25-14, 12-25, 21-25, 15-13 at the Paco Arena Sports and Events Center on Saturday night. This victory secured La Salle's position as the first team to advance to the semifinals of the V-League Collegiate Challenge.

Issa Ousseini, the middle blocker from Cameroon, led the Green Spikers with an impressive 23 points, which included 19 attacks, three blocks, and one service ace. His efforts propelled La Salle to their fifth consecutive win.

Another key contributor was Chris Hernandez, who scored 16 points with 13 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, while also delivering 21 excellent receptions. La Salle is set to face rival Ateneo de Manila University, who holds a 3-2 record, on September 6 at 12 p.m.

The decisive moment came with the score tied 13-all in the final set. Team captain JJ Rodriguez blocked Mikko Espartero’s attack, followed by a successful spike from Eugene Gloria, sealing the match after two hours and 29 minutes of intense play.

La Salle's coach, Jose Roque, attributed their success to the youthful composition of the team, stating, "Maybe one thing (that works) now is the mere fact that we're young, so they seem united. There's no seniority, it's like they see it as one team and understand each other." He added, "Maybe that's what gave us the edge in these games; that we were able to do our job in a way that was easier for them to understand. Rather than seniors, there are very young people."

For the Tamaraws, Dryx Saavedra and Mikko Espartero were pivotal in their efforts to stage a comeback during the third and fourth sets. Saavedra finished with 21 points from 19 attacks and two blocks, while Lirick Mendoza contributed 17 points, including seven blocks. Amet Bituin added 12 points, and Espartero managed nine points along with 15 excellent receptions and seven digs.

This loss marked FEU's first defeat in four games during the tournament.

The Green Spikers’ decisive win marks a significant milestone as they aim for the championship in the ongoing V-League Collegiate Challenge.