Savouge swiftly bounced back from a heartbreaking loss with a dominant straight-set win over Alpha Insurance, 25-12, 25-21, 25-21, clinching the third semifinal berth in the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Filoil Ecooil Centre on Friday.
"This is the mindset we've been working on – fighting until the end. I told them to let go of our last game against Cignal because we did our best. Today, they weren’t aware that we had already secured a semifinal spot because I didn’t want them to think about it. I just wanted them to play and finish Round 2 strong. The result turned out well, and I’m happy it worked out," said Calderon in Filipino.
Shawie Caritativo, Angelo Reyes, Mark Calado, Madz Gampong and JD Diwa all played crucial roles in that late surge. Calado led all scorers with 15 points and contributed seven excellent receptions, while Gampong added 13 points and made seven digs.
"You can see the improvement in Calado and Gampong’s receiving and defense. The team is really coming together, and we are more than ready for the semifinals," added Calderon.
Meanwhile, Alpha Insurance fell to 2-6 but remained in solo fourth place. However, the Protectors will soon be joined by the winner of the VNS-Laticrete vs. PGJC Navy match later in the day.
Vince Nadera once again led Alpha Insurance with 14 points and five digs, while JJ Javelona chipped in seven points. The Protectors will continue their semifinal push against the VNS-Laticrete Griffins in a crucial matchup tomorrow.
More importantly, the victory bolstered the Spin Doctors’ confidence and momentum ahead of their highly anticipated rematch against the King Crunchers tomorrow (Sunday).
Savouge has steadily emerged as a formidable title contender, proving it can go toe-to-toe with the league’s elite. The Spin Doctors took the HD Spikers to five sets in a match where they held a 2-1 lead before narrowly falling in the closing frames last Wednesday.
They also dragged the King Crunchers into a grueling five-set duel in their first round encounter, again leading 2-1 before being overpowered in the decisive sets.
Yet, those hard-fought losses seem to have only steeled the Spin Doctors’ resolve. With every match, they grow sharper, more resilient and increasingly confident that they belong among the best.
As they prepare to face the unbeaten King Crunchers once more, Savouge carries not just a hunger for redemption but a newfound belief that they can topple the league’s top teams and stake their claim as legitimate title threats.
