Savouge kept its unbeaten run intact after overpowering AEP Cabstars, 25-22, 25-21, 25-16, in the first round of the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference preliminaries at the FilOil Playtime Centre on Friday, March 6. The Spin Doctors’ dominant performance secured their fourth straight win and set up a highly anticipated showdown with fellow unbeaten Criss Cross.

The victory kept Savouge level with the King Crunchers at the top of the standings as both teams improved to identical 4-0 records. Criss Cross earlier recovered from a slow start before defeating the 3B Event Masters, 22-25, 25-10, 25-13, 25-15.

The results paved the way for a marquee duel between the league’s two hottest squads as Savouge and Criss Cross battle for the solo lead. The highly anticipated clash will also determine which team remains the lone unbeaten side heading into the next phase of the eliminations.

The matchup promises a compelling contrast of styles as the power-hitting King Crunchers collide with the balanced and aggressive Spin Doctors. Both teams have shown impressive form in the opening round, making their upcoming encounter one of the most awaited matches of the conference.

Savouge powers past Cabstars

Savouge relied on its aggressive offense and strong net defense to control the match against the Cabstars. The Spin Doctors dominated the frontline battle and consistently found openings in the AEP defense throughout the contest.

Head coach Sydney Calderon said the team initially struggled with errors, particularly from the service line, but eventually settled down and regained control as the match progressed.

“So far nakapag-adjust naman kami, kasi nung start ng first set medyo slow kami, marami kaming errors,” Calderon said.

“Nag-try kaming mag-serve talaga ng mabigat, pero ‘yun nga nag-cause siya ng errors. Pero good thing naman nakabawi kami, naka-catch up kami sa latter part so happy ako sa performance ng mga bata,” he added.

Despite converting only one service ace, Savouge made up for it with its strong attacking and blocking game. The Spin Doctors finished with a 44-35 advantage in attacks and a commanding 12-2 edge in blocks to dictate the tempo of the match.

Balanced offense fuels Spin Doctors

Mark Calado led Savouge with 14 points built on 11 attacks, two blocks, and one ace in the one-hour and 19-minute victory. His steady scoring helped maintain the Spin Doctors’ offensive rhythm throughout the match.

Louie Ramirez added 13 points on 11 attacks and two blocks while also contributing eight excellent receptions on defense. Shawie Caritativo chipped in 10 points to provide additional scoring support for the team.

Setter JC Enarciso orchestrated the offense with 13 excellent sets despite seeing action only in the first two sets of the match. His playmaking helped establish Savouge’s early momentum that eventually carried the team to a straight-set win.

Meanwhile, AEP-Cabstars absorbed their second consecutive defeat and dropped to a 1-3 record, tying them with 3B for fourth place in the standings. Jay Rack De La Noche once again paced the Cabstars with 13 points.

Jared Schnake marked his debut with 10 points, while Vince Lorenzo anchored the backline with 17 excellent receptions and four excellent digs. AEP will try to bounce back when it faces 3B in its next assignment.