Savouge displayed immense grit and resilience to dispatch De La Salle-EcoOil, 25-23, 29-27, 25-18, and complete the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference semifinals cast on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
The Spin Doctors rose to 6-2, enough to seal their place in the semis, where a guest team will join the competition, regardless of the result of their matchup with the Criss Cross King Crunchers on Sunday.
This victory by Savouge slammed the door shut on La Salle-EcoOil and PGJC Navy.
“Before kami maglaro, sabi ko lang ayaw ko kayo mapressure, kung ano lang yung tinraining natin for this week, execute lang natin and I think ‘yun ‘yung naging edge namin today kung bakit nanalo kami,” said Spin Doctors head coach Sydney Calderon.
Savouge needed to dig deep in the first and second frames, rallying from late deficits to take control of the match.
Down 20-22 in the opening set, Shawie Caritativo, Charlee Magpayo, and Hero Austria all came through to turn the tide in the Spin Doctors’ favor, 25-23.
Then Savouge showcased that it can go point-by-point with La Salle-EcoOil in the extended second stanza before Caritativo took over, hammering a sharp crosscourt kill before serving up an ace for the 29-27 win and the 2-0 set advantage.
The Spin Doctors did not need to climb back in the third as they raced to an 18-12 margin with Giles Torres and Austria leading the way en route to the one-hour and 47-minute sweep.
“Actually part talaga ng training namin ‘yung kung paano hahabol sa lamang na kalaban. Part yan ng training namin, yung pressured games para just in case mangyari sa laro which is naapply namin so super happy ako sa kanila,” added Calderon.
Caritativo showed the way with 16 points, 10 excellent receptions, and five digs, while Torres added 13 points on 10 spikes and three blocks.
Imperial balanced the attackers with 18 excellent sets as Neil De Pedro, Austria, and Magpayo chipped in nine points apiece.
Joshua Magalaman and Noel Kampton got 11 and 10 points, respectively, but that could not stop the Green Oilers from sliding to their fourth straight loss, dropping to 4-4 and out of contention.
La Salle-EcoOil looks to finish its campaign on a high note on Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre against VNS.
