Savouge braved the strong wind and rain brought by Tropical Storm Kristine on Thursday, still attending training in preparation for its big clash with Cignal.
The Spin Doctors’ unbothered training routine at Azure Urban Resort Residences in Parañaque paid off on Friday evening when they upset the HD Spikers, 19-25, 27-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13, remaining unblemished in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
Beating Cignal was not an easy task, as they are the winningest team in Spikers’ Turf history and the heavy favorites to win this conference due to their loaded lineup.
“Yesterday kahit bagyo, talagang pinilit namin mag-training kasi sabi ko, we have to prepare kasi syempre big respect talaga kay Cignal,” shared Savouge head coach and team owner Sydney Calderon after their big win.
Such dedication is one of the indicators that the Spin Doctors are unified in their goal this conference: to breach the semifinals, wherein a guest team will join the top four teams after the elimination round.
The biggest challenge for Savouge is to be more than a participant and become a challenger, which is what Calderon has been emphasizing to her team.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
“Yun nga sabi ko sa team ko before, hindi pwedeng sali lang tayo nang sali. Dapat manalo rin tayo,” she recalled, referring to when Savouge first joined back in the 2023 Invitationals.
“I think iisa kami lahat ng goal ngayong season na ito, which is try lang namin makapasok sa top four. And who knows, baka pagdating namin doon, iba na ang scenario.”
Despite this statement victory that catapulted them into the “title contenders” tier, Calderon knows that her team can still improve even more with six more games to go in the elimination round.
The 3-0 Spin Doctors will now enter a long break and will be back on the court on November 6 against Chichi DHTSI at the Philsports Arena.
“Hindi pa kami masyadong kampante na ‘title contender’ ang label sa amin. Ang ginagawa lang namin ay pinag-aaralan namin kung sino yung kalaban namin,” said Calderon.
“Sabi ko nga sa team, one game at a time tayo. Huwag nating isipin agad na dumating tayo agad sa championship. Syempre, bago tayo makarating doon, kailangan pagtrabahuhan.”
