Savouge snapped its two-game losing streak with a commanding straight-set victory over D’Navigators Iloilo, 28-26, 25-21, 25-19, breathing new life into its semifinal aspirations in the Spikers' Turf Invitational Conference at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig on Sunday.
The Spin Doctors were drawn into a fierce, extended battle by the D’Navigators in the opening set, but they showcased both poise and resolve to squeak out a tight win. Savouge then powered through the next two frames to complete the sweep, bouncing back from a difficult stretch of matches.
The crucial victory not only halted Savouge’s alarming two-game skid but also boosted its chances of securing a semis berth in the season-ending tournament of the league organized by Sports Vision.
With a 5-2 win-loss record, the team heads into its final two preliminary matches with renewed confidence, hoping to solidify its position in the standings.
Savouge regained the No. 4 spot, pending the result of the ongoing match between EcoOil La Salle (4-2) and Criss Cross (5-1).
The victory marked a significant bounce-back for the Spin Doctors, who had slipped in the standings after losses to the first semifinalists the DN Steel FEU Ultras and the Navy Stallions.
“Nagfocus lang ulit kami sa mga basic, sa kung anong mga areas na natatalo kami which is receive lang talaga namin saka nagpolish lang kami sa service namin ulit kasi yung last two games namin parang malambot, magaan, at saka marami kaming errors,” said Savouge head coach Sydney Calderon.
With a shaky 22-21 lead in the second set, Savouge capitalized on the D’Navigators' errors to extend its advantage. Giles Torres then denied Kent Sabando at the net, securing a commanding 2-0 set lead for the Spin Doctors.
Savouge maintained its momentum in the third, with Norwel Sanama and Sherwin Caritativo leading the charge. The Spin Doctors surged to a 16-9 lead, cruising to a 25-19 finish and completing the sweep in one hour and 40 minutes.
Sanama, who had seen limited action in recent games due to the team's rotation, proved his worth with an impressive 16-point performance, including 15-of-23 spiking.
Torres added 12 points, combining eight attacks and four blocks, while Caritativo contributed nine points and delivered 11 excellent receptions.
The D’Navigators, on the other hand, were left reeling after suffering their seventh consecutive loss, following their opening win against the Chichi DHTSI Titans.
With the setback, the D’Navigators dropped to ninth place in the 10-team field. They will close out their campaign against the Martelli Meats Master Butchers on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
In a shorthanded nine-player lineup, Kyle Villamor led the D’Navigators with nine points and five receptions, while Madz Gampong and Bryan Jaleco chipped in with eight and seven points, respectively.
