Alpha dusts off Savouge before big crowd
ALPHA Insurance celebrates its 25-22, 19-25, 26-24, 22-25, 16-14 win over Savouge on Saturday in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena.
Photograph COURTESY OF Spikers’ Turf
CEBU CITY — Alpha Insurance showed great resolve and outlasted Savouge in an intense five-set decision, 25-18, 19-25, 26-24, 22-25, 16-14, in the Spikers’ Turf Season 10 Invitational Conference opener on Saturday at the SM Seaside Cebu Arena.
In front of an overwhelming 13,000–strong crowd, the Protectors rallied from a 10-12 deficit and outhustled the Spin Doctors in the extended deciding frame for a rousing start.
“Everyone wants a good start. Actually, we didn’t just have a good start but a great start. Our opponents are the silver medalists. They’ve been in the finals and have added good players. They are not easy to beat. They are hard to play against,” Alpha Insurance coach Mike Santos said.
Savouge seemed to turn the tables around after taking the fourth set to force the decider. The Spin Doctors controlled the fifth set and even built a 12-10 advantage.
Christian Enarciso, however, committed a service error before Reymark Betco tied it at 12.
An attack error by Axel Van Book gave Savouge its last taste of the lead.
Book took a point back before Kyle Villamor committed an attack error as the Protectors took matchpoint.
Mark Calado’s kill forced a deuce. Daniel Nicolas threw away the Spin Doctors’ chance to take the lead after sending his serve short before EJ Casana blocked Villamor to seal the victory.
Alpha Insurance came out smoking on all cylinders in the opening set, with Casana fluidly orchestrating plays in his first game with the squad after transferring from AEP Cabstar.
Savouge tied the match in the second set before the Protectors outhustled the Spin Doctors in the extended third set for a 2-1 match lead.