Air Force got its second wind in the fifth set, ripping National U with a barrage of hits and solid blocking as it snatched a 25-22, 30-28, 20-25, 17-25, 15-4 victory to break into the win column after back-to-back defeats in the 2023 Spikers Turf Open Conference, Sunday at Paco Arena.
The Airmen racked up eight of the first 11 points in the decider then held the Volley Builders to just one point the rest of the way to save what could’ve been a disastrous finish after virtually losing steam in the third and fourth sets.
Jessie Lopez kept the team intact with his superb playmaking, finishing with 25 excellent sets he laced with five digs and two blocks as the Airmen bounced back from a pair of shutout losses to the Iloilo D’Navigators and the Imus AJAA Spikers to improve to ninth in the 11-team field.
"Medyo nagbunga yung ensayo namin nung nakaraan. Nagjejell na kami, nakukuha na namin yung first ball namin saka 'yung blocking medyo nakukuha na rin namin kaya medyo maganda 'yung laro ng mga bata," said Airmen coach Jhim Merza.
The loss was the defending champion NU’s third straight as the Builders joined the idle Santa Rosa City Lions in the cellar.
Rodolfo Labrador led the Airmen onslaught with 20 points, all from spikes, while Edwin Tolentino and Ranran Abdilla chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Jessie Lopez, who is an assistant coach of the Volley Builders, steered Air Force (1-2) with 25 excellent sets to go with two blocks and five digs.
Mac Bandola's 31 points for National U went for naught.
