Boasting a young and athletic roster, Alpha Insurance aims to make a strong statement in its debut at the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.
Protectors head coach Mike Santos, who led PGJC-Navy in last year’s season-ending Invitational Conference, is now tasked with molding a talented mix of UAAP and NCAA standouts into a cohesive unit as they make their entry into the country’s premier men’s volleyball league.
Leading the charge for Alpha Insurance is team captain Edward Camposano, the most seasoned spiker on the squad’s youthful roster. His leadership and experience will be crucial as the team navigates its debut campaign.
Providing support are BJ Anima (La Salle), Francis Casas (Adamson), and JJ Javelona (FEU), and Jerome Lopez (San Beda), who earned Best Setter honors in the 2023 Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Challenge Cup.
“Actually para sa first conference namin, napakaswerte namin kasi ‘yung mga nakukuha naming players mga bata. ‘Yung iba diyan talagang kaka-graduate lang ng UAAP, NCAA then buti na lang na-acquire namin sila,” said Santos during the league’s media day last Monday.
“So ang sinasabi ko naman lagi sa kanila, pakita nila ‘yung best nila para magtuloy tuloy ‘yung program ng Alpha Insurance,” he added.
Santos believes the team's talent is enough to compete at the next level, but he emphasized the need to fine-tune their chemistry as they gear up for a tough opening match against defending champion Cignal on Friday.
“Yun talaga ang challenging sa’min ngayon. Skillswise, talagang matibay kami individually. Kaka-graduate lang ng mga ‘yan, very fresh pa from UAAP, NCAA. Ang challenge talaga is galing sila iba’t ibang school,” hebared.
“May galing FEU, galing Adamson, galing UP, may galing UE, so talagang challenge ‘yun para sa amin pero ginagawa naman namin ‘yung best na magagawa namin. At the same time, kaya in-appoint din namin si Edward (Camposano) as team captain kasi pinakaveteran siya, para mai-guide niya ‘yung mga bata.”
The veteran coach has set his sights on a Final Four finish for the young squad, believing that with the right preparation, teamwork, and steady improvement throughout the tournament, they can hold their own against more seasoned contenders.
“Hindi lang naman kami ang nage-expect, pati ‘yung management ng company. So sabi ko nga, since mga bata ito, bagong team, hopefully umabot ng Final Four. ‘Yun naman ang target namin. Final Four muna and then kapag nakapasok na, saka namin tatrabahuhin ‘yung sa mga susunod.”
