Alpha Insurance has achieved one of head coach Mike Santos’ key objectives for the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference. But as the team enters the second round of eliminations, he is already setting a new challenge for his squad.
After opening their campaign with four consecutive losses, the young Protectors finally checked off an important item on Santos’ list on Wednesday.
They secured their first win of the tournament at the expense of a depleted PGJC-Navy squad, 25-21, 26-24, 25-19, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Now, Santos is pushing his team to carry their momentum into the second round and double their efforts, believing that doing so will give them a fighting chance at securing a semifinal spot.
“Actually, ini-aim ko talaga na kahit maka-isang panalo lang from the first round. Then ike-carry over na namin ‘yung laban sa second round na tatalunin namin lahat ng dapat naming talunin kung gusto naming umabot ng final four,” Santos said after their breakthrough victory.
“‘Yun naman ang plano namin — makaisa, makadalawa ngayon, then ulitin namin or dagdagan namin sa second round.”
Santos proudly credited their hard-fought lessons from the opening round — especially a grueling five-set heartbreaker against title contender Savouge — for preparing them for this breakthrough.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, kung tutuusin kami ang underdog talaga dito. Knowing na ‘yung team is two-month-old pa lang talaga, talagang nahihirapan pa kami tumapos ng laro. Kagaya niyan, medyo dikit pa rin,” said the PLDT assistant coach.
He added, “Siguro ‘yung panalo, bigay ko talaga sa kanila dahil sa na-gain nilang experience gawa ng sunod-sunod na talo.”
(C) Spikers’ Turf Images
With their chemistry steadily improving, Santos expects his team to put on a much stronger showing in the second round.
“Ayun, kahit papaano naka-recover kami. ‘Yung mga pagkatalo na ‘yon, nakita ko na lack of chemistry talaga. Nandun na kami — mananalo na — then bumibitaw pa. Sign talaga ng team na kulang na kulang pa sa chemistry,” he admitted.
The victory, however, was bittersweet for Santos, who previously handled the Sealions in an interim capacity during last year’s season-ending Invitational Conference while his good friend George Pascua was away.
Navy has been hit hard by a series of setbacks, with veterans Greg Dolor, Marvin Hairami, and Omar Lioc being pulled out for basic training as part of their promotions.
Adding to their woes, top spiker Joeven Dela Vega was ruled out of the tournament due to an undisclosed illness.
“Medyo masakit din sa akin kasi kahit papaano, kilala ko rin ‘yang mga ‘yan. Pero ‘yan naman kasing Navy, team pa rin talaga ni Coach George (Pascua). Nag-interim lang ako, tinuloy ko lang ‘yung program niya, so ‘yun. Kinausap ko sila kanina, binabati ko naman sila. Sabi ko nga, bigyan lang natin sila ng magandang laban, which is ginawa ng Navy kanina,” said Santos.
Despite their struggles, Santos is confident that the Sealions will bounce back.
“Kudos sa kanila na kahit anong mangyari, talagang nilalaban nila. Iba talaga ang Navy.”
