The Philippine Air Force Airmen breezed through the Cignal HD Spikers in three sets, 25-19, 25-16, 25-19, to take Game One of the Open Conference Finals of Spikers’ Turf 2016, Monday afternoon at the Philsports Arena.
Having lost to the HD Spikers in the preliminary round, the Airmen have adjusted and played with improved teamwork this time, according to Air Force head coach Rhovyl Verayo.
“Hindi sila naglalaro dati nu’n as a team e. Individual ang nilalaro nila e. So ngayon, nag-focus kaming coaches ng laro as a team talaga. As in buo,” said Verayo.
After taking the first set, 25-19, capped by an off-the-block hit by Rodolfo Labrador, the Airmen’s blocking and floor defense starting from the second set shocked Cignal and took spikers Ysay Marasigan and Raymark Woo out of their games.
“In-improve namin ‘yung blockings namin tsaka receive. Nu’ng unang laban namin, ‘yun talaga ang naging problema namin.”
Marasigan, usually a reliable scorer for the HD Spikers, only scored a point in the game.
Tied at ten apiece in the second set, the Airmen rode a 15-6 run, highlighted by attacks Fauzi Ismail and Howard Mojica to take the second set with a bit of ease, 25-16.
Even with Marasigan out in the third set, Cignal kept the game close, and tied it at 16-16 via a quick attack by Herchel Ramos. Then, Air Force unleashed a 9-3 run that sealed their game one win.
The Airmen also relied on their young wing attackers, Ismail and Mojica, in the final frame, scoring totals of 21 and 11, respectively.
The game was also a rematch of the Reinforced Conference finals, where Air Force also took game 1, but lost the next two games
“Wala talagang kumpiyansa, kasi ang Cignal, alam naman natin, buo na ‘yang team na ‘yan, matagal na e. Sigurado babalik at babalik ‘yan, magbabasa at magbabasa ng plays namin ‘yan,” closed Verayo.
The HD Spikers will have more than a week to regroup, as game two of the finals is on July 13, also at the Philsports Arena.
The Scores:
Air Force (3) – Ismail 21, Mojica 11, Labrador 7, Malabanan 6, Fuentes 4, Tolentino 2, Avila 0, Chavez (L)
Cignal (0) – Woo 13, Ramos 8, Capate 6, Castel 4, Bonono 4, Faytaren 3, Marasigan 1, Mangulabnan 1, Dela Cruz 0, Diezmo 0, Lansangan 0, Montero (L)
