Alpha Insurance trailed 15-20 in the opening set, then buried VNS-Laticrete under a 10-2 run and never looked back. The Protectors swept the Griffins, 25-22, 25-16, 25-14, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The win lifted Alpha Insurance to solo second place at 5-2 in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference. It moved the Protectors closer to a semifinal berth and left VNS-Laticrete at 2-5 and on the brink of elimination.

Alpha Insurance Rallies Past VNS-Laticrete

Rocky Motol and Reymark Betco spearheaded the 10-2 finish that erased a five-point deficit and flipped the opening set. That comeback set the tone as the Protectors carried their momentum into the next two sets, leaving VNS-Laticrete little room to recover.

Alpha Insurance then took over at the net with a 38-21 edge in attacks and an 18-10 advantage in blocks. The Protectors also held a slim 3-1 edge in service aces and wrapped up the match in just 79 minutes.

Head coach Mike Santos said the slow start had to be addressed. “Actually, sa simula nung first set, medyo kumakapa kami so kailangan naming talaga i-overcome ‘yung ganung pakiramdam para ma-dominate namin ‘yung kalaban,” Santos said.

“Kaya nung timeout sinabi ko sa kanila na we need to find other options pagdating sa ganung sitwasyon,” he added. The Protectors carried that response through the final two sets.

Casaña Orchestrates Alpha Insurance Offense

EJ Casaña orchestrated the offense with 24 excellent sets and seven points on three attacks, three aces and one block. Vince Himzon led all scorers with 15 points on nine attacks and six kill blocks, while JJ Javelona added 10 points.

Motol recorded a double-double of 10 points and 20 excellent receptions. Barbie San Andres, who experienced cramps late in the match, contributed seven points and seven excellent digs, and Lance De Castro anchored the floor defense with 15 excellent digs.

“Siguro pinaka number one advantage namin dito is ‘yung ano, leadership ni EJ (Casaña). Saka ‘yung ano, ‘yung communication ni Lance De Castro sa loob ng court. Nadadala nila ‘yung buong team,” Santos said.

CJ Segui led VNS-Laticrete with seven points, while Jau Umandal and Julius Arcillo chipped in six points apiece in the loss. The Griffins will try to salvage their campaign against AEP-Cabstars on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m. at the Philsports Arena.

The Protectors will look to extend their winning streak to five games against ClearSkiiin on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 5 p.m. at the Filoil EcoOil Centre. A win would move them closer to a semifinal berth.