After leading De La Salle University to the 2023 V-League Men's Collegiate Challenge championship, main players Noel Kampton, Vince Maglinao, and JM Ronquillo rightfully took some time to rest.
Less than a month after their victory on September 29, the Green Spikers entered another Sports Vision tournament, the Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference.
The trio of Jules de Jesus, Rui Ventura, and Yoyong Mendoza received the nod of head coach Jose Roque to start for EcoOil-supported La Salle in its debut game in the country's top men's league. Roque presented a challenge to the substitute players turned starters: lead the Green Spikers to a strong beginning while their top players recover.
And they succeeded. La Salle commenced their campaign with a 25-23, 25-20, 25-20 triumph over the formidable VNS at the Paco Arena in Manila on Saturday.
"I'm very happy because all of them delivered. What we planned, what we started right after the V-League, where we made it known that you'll be playing for Spikers' Turf, that's the mindset," said Roque about his exceptional substitutes.
"They'll be taking the lead while the starters recover. What the starters did previously, now they will do."
Ventura scored 15 points with an impressive 15-of-22 spike rate, De Jesus contributed 14 points with 12 attacks and two blocks, while Mendoza earned nine points in the 86-minute match.
De Jesus, who formerly served as a specialist coming off the bench, pledged not to squander the opportunity given to them as the Green Spikers competed in Pool B.
"First of all, I'm thankful to the coach because this Spikers' Turf, they really gave us a chance to prove our worth as starters," said De Jesus, an outside hitter.
"We became champions in the V-League because of our First Six, so this is the challenge that our coach gave us to fulfill our roles; we need to give our best."
Boosting the trio's confidence was the support of their resting starters who were on the bench. Kampton was the V-League's Finals MVP and 1st Best Outside Spiker, while Ronquillo received the Best Opposite Spiker award.
"JM and Noel are very supportive and they also help us with our morale to always improve in every game and training," De Jesus shared.
