By: Joaquin Cortez
Alpha Insurance rediscovered its winning touch by turning a difficult stretch into a statement performance, sweeping AEP-Cabstars, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20, to snap its two-game losing skid and return to the winning column in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
After absorbing defeats at the hands of the NU-Archipelago Builders Bulldogs and Criss Cross King Crunchers, the Protectors responded with a more composed performance, leaning on Axel Book and Barbie San Andres, who combined for 27 points to improve their record to 2-2 and gain a share of fifth place.
Alpha Insurance head coach Mike Santos stressed that his team needed to approach every match with the same level of preparation and intensity, regardless of its opponent.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
“‘Di madali ‘yung tatlo naming nakalaban, so minindset ko lang rin ‘yung mga players na ‘yung Spikers’ Turf, wala talagang mahihinang team. Every time na maglalaro tayo, every time na pupunta tayo sa court, we have to do our best sa kung sinong makakatapat natin,” said Santos.
“I think nag-respond naman ang mga players tungkol doon sa maganda naman ‘yung pinakita nila,” he added.
Alpha Insurance maintained control for most of the opening set before Jetlee Gopio’s off-the-block hit and a successful joust helped the Protectors close out the frame, 25-19.
The Cabstars put up a stronger fight in the second set, with Leo Aringo’s crosscourt hit trimming the Protectors’ lead to two, 14-12. However, Alpha Insurance kept AEP-Cabstars at bay, as Gopio delivered a kill to put his team at set point, 24-21.
San Andres then sealed the set with a crosscourt hit, giving the Protectors a two-set advantage, 25-22.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
After Dave Lardizabal’s service ace tied the third set at 13-all, the Protectors responded with a 4-0 run, capped by Book’s own ace to establish a four-point cushion, 17-13.
Despite Bembem Bautista giving the Cabstars another lifeline with two late kills, Book eventually put the finishing touches on the sweep with a crosscourt hit to seal the one-hour-and-23-minute victory.
For San Andres, the key to the bounce-back performance was rediscovering the enjoyment of playing, rather than becoming too consumed by the pressure to win.
“Ang mindset lang po namin ng teammates ko and coaches is i-take po itong game na ito na light lang po kasi ‘yung mga past few games namin, sobrang eager po kami manalo doon po sa malalakas na teams na nakakalimutan namin mag-enjoy,” said San Andres, who finished with 12 points on 10 attacks and two aces.
Aside from Book and San Andres, Gopio chipped in 10 points, including six blocks, while EJ Casaña tallied 20 excellent sets and three points for the Protectors.
Alpha Insurance will have less than 24 hours to recover before facing the winless AFP Cavaliers on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 3:30 p.m. at the PhilSports Arena.
Meanwhile, Lardizabal paced the Cabstars with 16 points on 15 attacks. Aringo, who powered AEP-Cabstars to their breakthrough win over the Armed Forces of the Philippines last Sunday with 23 points, was limited to 11 as the team dropped to 1-3.
The Cabstars will look to snap their early-season skid when they face the undefeated King Crunchers on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 11 a.m. at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
