VNS-One Alicia faced disaster against a surprisingly tough Sta. Rosa side but squeaked out a win in a gripping four-set skirmish and Griffins parlayed the young City Lions’ shaky stint on the service box into a lead-sharing come-from-behind 25-23, 21-25, 22-25, 30-28, 15-13 victory in the 2022 Spikers Turf Open Conference, Saturday at Paco Arena.
Uriel Mendoza banged in a kill after three exchanges to cap the Griffins’ fightback from 1-2 set down and a 3-7 deficit in the fifth for another five-set escape that took two hours and 18 minutes to finish. VNS also repulsed the Ateneo-Fudgee, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-9, last Tuesday.
The young City Lions cracked as the pressure mounted and blew a huge lead in the fourth but regrouped and stormed to a four-point lead midway in the fifth on a Chris Hernandez’s through-the-block hit.
"Noong first three sets talaga hindi namin mahanap 'yung groove namin," said VNS-One Alicia head coach Ralph Ocampo. "Ang plano talaga namin ay majority ng team magamit, pero malakas talaga 'yung kalaban while 'yung team namin parang masyado silang relaxed... 'yun 'yung winork-out namin nung huli."
But two service errors and back-to-back Sta. Rosa net miscues enabled the Griffins to seize control at 10-9 and the latter kept their nerves in check after three more deadlocks before Mendoza nailed another off-the-block kill for a 13-12 VNS lead before the Griffins went 2-up on another Sta. Rosa attack error.
Benedict San Andres topscored for the Griffins with 24 points founded on 21 attacks, two blocks, and a service ace to go with 12 receptions and four digs.
Mendoza chipped in 12 points, all from spikes, with eight receptions.
It was a sorry setback for the City Lions, who ended up with 23 service miscues and joined the Troopers at 0-2 following a three-set defeat to the HD Spikers.
Jade Disquitado paced Santa Rosa City, which didn't make a substitution in the two hour 18-minute affair, with 25 points on 23 hits and two blocks.
Hernandez added 17 points with 18 receptions and nine digs.
