Savouge flexed just enough muscle to shoulder past VNS-Laticrete, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22, securing the bronze medal with a sweep of their best-of-three series in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Friday.
The Spin Doctors, who marked their league debut with a third-place finish in the Invitational Conference last season, fell short of a Finals appearance once again but successfully replicated their initial league performance. This achievement was powered by new recruits Mark Calado and Madz Gampong, alongside team mainstay Sherwin Caritativo.
"It feels great, even though we fell short of our goal for this conference. At the very least, we were able to defend our bronze medal," said Savouge head coach Sydney Calderon in Filipino.
Despite the seemingly close scoreline, the Spin Doctors maintained control against the young Griffins, dictating the tempo in crucial moments before closing out each set with authority.
With Caritativo and Renzel Antonio spearheading the attack, they unleashed a blistering 7-1 run in the third set, turning a 15-17 deficit into a commanding 22-18 lead, leaving the Griffins scrambling for answers.
The Griffins earlier fought back and managed to close the gap to within two points at 18-20, following a CJ Segui back-row hit and a Titus Villacrusis block on Gampong. But that was as close as they could get, as Giles Torres, Calado, and Gampong took charge in the closing stretch, sealing the victory in one hour and 19 minutes.
"I told my players to be grateful because every team dreams of making it to the semifinals," added Calderon. "That was our mindset after the loss to Cignal – we let that go and focused on securing the bronze."
Calado led Savouge with 14 points, tallying 10 attacks and four kill blocks, while also contributing 15 excellent receptions. Gampong registered 10 points along with five excellent digs, and Torres added eight points.
Caritativo, who only played in the third set, made an immediate impact with six points, on three attacks and three blocks. John Michael Paglaon facilitated the offense with 10 excellent sets, while Rikko Marmeto contributed eight excellent digs and 14 excellent receptions.
On the other side, the Griffins capped off their first semis appearance since 2022 with a fourth-place finish in the tournament organized by Sports Vision and supported by ArenaPlus and Mikasa.
Segui scored a game-high 19 points, built on 18 attacks and one block, while Bryan Jaleco chipped in 10 points from seven attacks, two kill blocks, and an ace.
Jan Mangulabnan orchestrated the Griffins’ offense with 14 excellent sets, while JM Espanso contributed nine excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions.
The Spin Doctors, bolstered by the arrival of Calado and Gampong, had their sights set on reaching the championship round. However, despite pushing the league’s top two teams – Cignal and Criss Cross – to the limit, they fell just short. In both matches, they managed to seize a 2-1 set lead, only to be outlasted in grueling five-set encounters.
Despite the heartbreak, the Spin Doctors remain undeterred. With the lessons learned from their close battles, they are committed to refining their game, strengthening their resolve, and returning with a fiercer drive.
With renewed determination and the experience gained from this campaign, the Spin Doctors are poised to make an even stronger push in the next conference – one that they hope will earn them a crack at the championship.
