For the past three conferences, Savouge has looked like a team on the brink: talented enough to threaten anyone, composed enough to string together deep runs — but never quite complete enough to get over the hump.
Back-to-back bronze medal finishes, followed by a fourth-place showing in last year’s Invitationals, proved that the promise is real and the foundation is solid.
This time, however, the Spin Doctors look every bit like a team ready to contend for a championship.
During the offseason, Savouge retooled its roster with major signings, bringing in former Cignal standouts JP Bugaoan, Louie Ramirez, and KC Andrade, along with Navy ace Joeven Dela Vega and ex-D’Navigators-Iloilo playmaker Kim Dayandante.
More than just fresh faces, they bring championship pedigree and international exposure — the kind of composure forged in title runs and high-pressure battles abroad.
It was precisely the edge the Spin Doctors sorely lacked in recent campaigns, when promise alone proved not enough to carry them past the doorstep of the finals.
With formidable reinforcements in place and a core eager to finally turn potential into payoff, Savouge head coach Sydney Calderon believes her new-look squad now has what it takes to push past previous heartbreaks and stake a legitimate claim to the championship.
(C) Spikers Turf Images
“I think championship material ‘yung team ko ngayon,” said Calderon following Savouge’s debut win over 3B in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference last Wednesday.
“Yes, hopefully, sana. Kasi malaking tulong sila Louie Ramirez talaga, ‘yun. Nag-add ng firepower sa team namin and then si Bugaoan din malaking tulong sa firepower saka defense namin,” she added.
Ramirez, a former Finals MVP with the Super Spikers, delivered nine points in their dominant straight-set win over the Event Masters. Meanwhile, Bugaoan, a four-time league Best Middle Blocker, tallied seven points.
Both Ramirez and Bugaoan played only in the first two sets of the swift one-hour, 20-minute victory.
Calderon said Bugaoan and Ramirez, along with the rest of the new additions, have adjusted smoothly to the squad. Their transition has been aided by the presence of former teammates, which has helped fast-track chemistry and on-court cohesion.
“Ang good thing kasi with Louie Ramirez is may mga former teammates siya dito galing Perpetual. Si JP naman, nandiyan din si Calado, nag-ga-guide sa kanya. So far, onting push na lang kami sa gelling nila, but I’m happy kung ano ‘yung naging performance nila,” she said.
Calderon admitted that expectations naturally come with a revamped roster, but the team remains unfazed.
What matters most, she emphasized, is that everyone is locked in on one goal — making a serious championship run this conference.
“Hindi na namin muna ina-ano ‘yung expectations sa labas, pero isa lang ‘yung masasabi ko. Seryoso ‘yung team na makapag-finals this conference.”
