Spin Doctors finish strong, reach semis

Savouge swiftly bounced back from a heartbreaking loss with a dominant straight-set win over Alpha Insurance, 25-12, 25-21, 25-21, to clinch the third semifinal berth of the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Thursday.

After cruising through the first set, the Spin Doctors had to dig deep in the next two, overcoming a gritty stand by the Protectors. But with every challenge Alpha Insurance presented, Savouge responded with superior firepower and net defense, securing the victory in just 77 minutes.

With a 5-3 record, Savouge joined unbeaten Criss Cross (7-0) and defending champion Cignal (6-1) in the semis of the tournament organized by Sports Vision. The last spot remains up for grabs, with Alpha Insurance (2-6), VNS-Laticrete (1-6), and PGJC Navy (1-6) still in contention.

Savouge head coach Sydney Calderon emphasized the team’s growing resilience and focus after leading the Spin Doctors to their second consecutive semis appearance.

“This is the mindset we’ve been working on — fighting until the end. I told them to let go of our last game against Cignal because we did our best,” Calderon said.

“Today, they weren’t aware that we had already secured a semifinal spot because I didn’t want them to think about it. I just wanted them to play and finish Round 2 strong. The result turned out well, and I’m happy it worked out.”

Savouge displayed a significant improvement in closing out sets, something the Spin Doctors lacked in their loss to the HD Spikers.

In the third set, with Alpha Insurance pushing for a comeback at 18-all, the Spin Doctors responded with a decisive 7-3 finishing kick to seal the straight-set win.

Shawie Caritativo, Angelo Reyes, Mark Calado, Madz Gampong and JD Diwa all played crucial roles in that late surge. Calado led all scorers with 15 points and contributed seven excellent receptions, while Gampong added 13 points and made seven digs.

Caritativo showcased his all-around skills, finishing with 10 points, 16 excellent receptions, and five digs.

Calderon was particularly pleased with how the team has developed its defensive game.

“You can see the improvement in Calado and Gampong’s receiving and defense. The team is really coming together, and we are more than ready for the semifinals,” Calderon added.

Meanwhile, Alpha Insurance fell to 2-6 but remained in solo fourth place. However, the Protectors will soon be joined by the winner of the VNS-Laticrete vs. PGJC Navy match later in the day.