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Games Sunday
4 p.m. – Martelli Meats vs VNS
6 p.m. – D’Navigators vs DN Steel-FEU
Savouge made a statement in its debut, overcoming a tenacious Martelli Meats squad in a pulsating five-set thriller, 23-25, 25-17, 25-12, 22-25, 15-8, to kick off its title campaign in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Ynares Sports Arena on Friday, Oct. 18.
Pushed to the limit by the tough defending Master Butchers, the Spin Doctors dug deep into their bench to deliver the finishing blow with Louis Gamban coming through with a game-high 18 points built on 16 attacks right in his league debut.
His timely contributions, particularly in the deciding set, proved to be the turning point for Savouge, as the Spin Doctors shifted into another gear when it mattered most.
Gamban’s energy sparked the team’s final surge, and with additional help from JD Diwa, who added four clutch points in the decider, Savouge sealed the victory.
“Happy naman ako sa pinakita ng team pero may kulang, nakukulangan ako kasi hindi ‘yun ‘yung ineexpect ko na performance namin,” said Sydney Calderon, who also marked his coaching debut for Savouge on a winning mode.
“Palagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na dapat tayo ‘yung ahead kasi pangatlong conference na namin ito and ‘yung kalaban namin considered as bago sila so dapat tayo yung magiging benchmark na tayo ‘yung hinahabol, hindi tayo ‘yung naghahabol sa kanila,” he added.
Despite the back-and-forth nature of the match, Savouge showcased depth and balance. Giles Torres, another key figure in their triumph, registered 15 points on eight spikes, five blocks, and two aces, while Diwa anchored the defense with five of the team’s staggering 19-block total.
Neil De Pedro chipped in 10 points, while Hero Austria and Sherwin Caritativo added eight points apiece, underscoring the team’s collective effort.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Savouge.
Martelli Meats, led by captain JM Cordez’s 14-point output, made its intentions clear from the start, stealing the opening set with a combination of precision and power. Razzel Palisoc contributed 12 points along with seven digs, while Angelo Reyes chipped in 11 points, as the Master Butchers continued to test Savouge’s resolve, particularly in the fourth set, where they managed to force a decider.
But in the end, Savouge’s bench depth and composure under pressure allowed them to break free from Martelli’s grasp, closing out the match with a dominant win in the final frame.
Savouge thus joined Criss Cross and D’Navigators Iloilo at the top of the standings in the early stages of the season-ending tournament, organized by Sports Vision and featuring 10 teams.
Both squads are set for a quick turnaround, with Martelli Meats looking to bounce back against the VNS squad tomorrow (Sunday), also at the Pasig arena, while Savouge aims for a second straight win when it faces the same youthful VNS side on Tuesday at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex in Laguna.