JM Ronquillo steered De La Salle past the Josh Ybañez-led University of Santo Tomas, 25-20, 25-27, 25-20, 25-18, at the end of the eliminations in the UAAP Season 86 men’s volleyball on Saturday, April 27, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The win forged the Green Spikers a virtual best-of-three series against the National University Bulldogs as they finished with identical 11-3 records.

La Salle and NU will meet in the playoffs for the last twice-to-beat advantage before facing each other in the semifinal as they jockey for the No. 2 spot behind top seed Far Eastern University. 

Ronquillo posted a team-high 21 points, all coming from attacks, while Vince Maglinao added 19 markers highlighted by 17 attacks. 

Noel Kampton, on his end, had 18 points built on 16 attacks and two kill blocks to help the Taft based squad’s cause. 

The España squad was pretty much playing with no consequences as it is already locked in at the No. 4 seed. 

UST finished the eliminations with an 8-6 card to set up a Final Four clash with FEU. 

Meanwhile, league-leading MVP Ybañez, who tripped in the third set and came back in the fourth to help his side, paced the Golden Spikers with a game-high 24 points off 22 attacks and two service aces. 

GBoy De Vega and Sherwin Umandal added 15 and 12 markers, respectively.