THE battle for the last final slot in the 2024 V-League Men’s Collegiate Challenge is expected to be a nail-biter as De La Salle and University of Santo Tomas collide in a decisive Game 3 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig today, Wednesday.

Riding high on the momentum of their emphatic 25-18, 25-20, 25-23 victory last Sunday, the Green Spikers forced a sudden-death match, with the winner advancing to face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the championship series.

The best-of-three finals will begin on Sunday, also at the Pasig venue.

UST took the opener of the best-of-three semis series last week with a commanding comeback after dropping the opening set, claiming a 22-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-16 triumph. But La Salle responded fiercely in Game 2, dominating early and staying composed in the third set to clinch the win and keep their title-retention campaign alive.

“We need to stay hungrier,” said La Salle coach Jose Roque, stressing the importance of focus and discipline in their system.

“Our attention to our game plan was key, and I think the initiative of the players to follow through on the coaches’ instructions was vital,” he added.

Despite the Game 2 setback, the Golden Spikers remain resolute and determined to secure the win and keep their hopes alive for a potential UST sweep of both the men’s and women’s titles.

The women’s final will see the UST Golden Tigresses taking on the FEU Lady Tamaraws at 3 p.m. on Sunday, setting the stage for what could be an exciting title clash between the España and Morayta-based squads.

La Salle and UST will be missing key players for this pivotal match with ace spiker Noel Kampton and back-to-back UAAP MVP Josh Ybañez currently in Italy with Alas Pilipinas, respectively.