Saints and Lattes-Letran bucked the odds, including a number of service miscues, as it stunned Sta. Rosa City, 25-21, 25-18, 25-16, to serve notice of its initial campaign in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday.
The Saints Spikers leaned on the troika of Vince Himzon, John Bautista, and Steven Sta. Maria to outshine veterans Ish Polvorosa, Ronniel Rosales and Rikko Marmeto and fashion out the straight-set romp for an early share of the lead in Pool C with Davies Paints-Adamson.
“Actually, based doon sa performance nila, nakita ko yung excitement nila sa first set pa lang. Gusto nilang manalo. So, although maraming errors, na-handle namin yung game sa pacing naming. Nag-contribute yung middles saka outside spikers namin,” said Letran head coach Brian Esquibel.
After securing the first two sets, the Saints Spikers turned it up a notch higher in the third, using a 6-0 run to seize firm control at 17-10.
Letran, despite fouling up on the service line, kept the City Lions at bay on its way to a nine-point win and the sweep in one-hour and 23 minutes.
Himzon tallied a game-high 15 points on 12 attacks and three aces while Bautista chipped in 14 points on 11 attacks, two blocks, and one ace to go along with six excellent receptions and two digs. Sta. Maria added 11 markers in the victory.
John Arano, meanwhile, tossed 13 excellent sets while Raxel Catris had six excellent receptions and three excellent digs for the Saints Spikers.
“This is the first time na napasama ulit kami sa Spikers’ Turf. We are very lucky na maka-join with the support of Saints and Lattes. Siempre, thank you rin sa school kasi pinayagan kaming makasama ngayon,” added Esquibel.
Next up for the Saints Spikers is powerhouse Cignal on Nov. 3.
On the other hand, Levi De Vera paced Sta. Rosa with seven points on four attacks, two blocks, and an ace while Alihfaisal Gampong and Exequiel Quezada added five points apiece.
Polvorosa finished with eight excellent digs while Marmeto had 13 excellent receptions and five excellent digs.
The Lions will go up against the HD Spikers first on Sunday (Oct. 29).
