Youthful VNS humbled an Air Force side backstopped by veteran campaigners, hacking out a thrilling 25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23 victory to bolster its drive in the Spikers' Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday.
Multiple Griffins posted double digits to stun the Airmen with Pemie Bagalay providing leadership and scoring 17 points that went along with his 29 excellent receptions, and Noy Pedrosa churning out a career-high 15 points on 12 spikes, two blocks and an ace.
Ron Medalla and Russel Fronda added 10 points apiece for VNS, which secured its second straight win to improve to 3-2 for solo fifth.
"Magaling talaga yung kalaban namin kasi mga veterans yan. Sa amin si Pemie at Ron lang, kaya ayun nag-aadjust pa rin kami sa attacks namin. Nagsubok kaming makipagsabayan at maganda naman yung naging results," said Griffins head coach Ralph Ocampo.
With the Griffins ahead by just two late in the third frame, 23-21, Airmen's Ranran Abdilla hammered in a down-the-line spike that was first called in. But VNS contested it for ball in/ball out challenge that proved successful then Pedrosa denied Abdilla at the net to escape with the win.
Barely ahead in the fourth, 23-22, Bagalay's attempt went out and Air Force took the point. But Ocampo challenged the call again, this time for block touch. After the review, it again went in VNS favor then Bagalay finished the match with another off-the-block kill.
Abdilla had a game-high 25 points while Rodolfo Labrado chipped 11 points for the Air Force, which lost Ruben Inaudito midway through the game due to a left foot injury.
The Airmen fell to 1-4 in a tie with Santa Rosa at ninth, just ahead of cellar-dweller National U-Archipelago, which dropped its first four games in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
