Savouge Spin Doctors celebrate a big win over Cignal HD Spikers at the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Cignal HD Spikers may be home to the brightest men’s volleyball players, but the Savouge Spin Doctors showed no signs of intimidation and found their own light to claim their biggest victory yet in their first season on the Spikers’ Turf .
Savouge defeated top-ranked men’s club Cignal in a five-set thriller 19-25, 27-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13 to remain undefeated in three Invitational Conference games on Friday night at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
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The Spin Doctors turned to Hero Austria and Charlee Magpayo in the fifth set to overcome a two-set deficit.
READ: Spikers’ Turf: Cignal fends off Savouge to remain unbeaten
In a 13-1 draw, Austria fended off Lloyd Josafat’s block attempt and brought Savouge to match point at 14-13, before Magpayo fended off Martin Bugaoan’s attack to prevail after two hours and 23 minutes and take a 3-0 record in the league secured.
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Savouge coach and team owner Sydney Calderon told Spikers’ Turf’s winningest club and Open Conference champion that despite falling behind in the first three sets, she was just urging her wards to believe in themselves.
“Before we start the game, you can send a message to Moon and Sun Lang Yun’s team. We have every one of our lights, just waiting to make Kung Kailan shine. “Kung si Cignal siya ‘yung sun, kami naman ‘yung moon, so we have our own light and our own yun yung naging motivation,” Calderon said.
READ: Spikers’ Turf: Owa Retamar and Cignal score quick win
“Team effort Talaga. How long does it take for Cignal to be the right solution for you? Yun lang yung sinabi ko, chinallenge ko lang yung sarili namin.”
Savouge Spin Doctors during a game against Cignal HD Spikers in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO
Sherwin Caritativo led the Spin Doctors’ upset victory with 19 points. Austria scored four of its 10 points in the fifth set. Magpayo also had 10, while former Cignal player Giles Torres paced his former team with eight points.
Savouge will take a long break before their next game on November 6 against winless Chichi DHTSI Philsports Arena.
READ: Criss Cross banner for 10-team Spikers’ Turf Invitationals
Jau Umandal carried Cignal with 21 points, 12 excellent receptions and four digs, but suffered cramps in the fifth set as the game ended tied at 11. Mark Calado only had 11 points as the HD Spikers slipped to a 1-1 map.
Meanwhile, PGJC Navy sans star Joeven Dela Vega still debuted in style, defeating the hapless Chichi DHTSI 25-20, 25-17, 25-15.
While Dela Vega sat out, Marvin Villanueva jumped out to a huge lead, scoring a game-high 19 points, hitting 14 of his 23 attack attempts and notching three aces and two blocks.
“Practice pays off. It is not easy to practice Maganda Yung Pinapakita. “It’s not easy to apply pressure,” Navy coach Mike Santos said. “Two weeks before the AFP Olympics they stormed into the halo after missing the first set, but they were unprecedented, strong finishing battles.”
Greg Dolor, the Open Conference’s top outside spiker, also delivered 12 points for the Sealions. Reigning top middle blocker Peter Quiel had 11 points while setter Marvin Hairami scored 14 excellent sets to get off to a winning start before facing unbeaten Far Eastern University-DN Steel on Sunday.
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Chichi DHTSI remained winless in four games, No Titan again scored in double figures, with Rafael Del Pilar scoring a team-high six points.