Alpha Insurance opened its 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference campaign with a statement win, outlasting Savouge in four sets, 19-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22, on Monday, October 27, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Protectors, bannered by a more seasoned lineup this time around, relied on solid defense and late-set composure to take down the Spin Doctors, who had finished with back-to-back bronze medals in previous tournaments.

Head coach Mike Santos credited the victory to the team’s improved preparation and deeper roster. “Trust the process. Nagstart kami last conference, kulang na kulang kami sa preparation. Coming into this conference, maganda yung preparation, at the same time may mga recruit kami na mga ace players talaga,” he said.

Balanced attack lifts Protectors past Spin Doctors

Alpha Insurance recovered from a slow start by leaning on better floor defense and blocking. The turning point came in the third set when the Protectors weathered Savouge’s late rally to steal the frame, 26-24, after a clutch block sealed the set.

From there, Alpha Insurance stayed composed in the fourth, using its balanced attack to break a 22-all tie. Strong net defense forced two Savouge errors to close out the match in two hours and five minutes.

Depth and defense highlight Alpha Insurance’s rise

Team depth also played a key role as several players stepped up. The Protectors tallied 13 blocks overall, with their middle rotation disrupting Savouge’s offense throughout the match. Their improved serve reception and transition defense allowed consistent scoring runs that set the tone for the closing sets.

The win marked a promising start for Alpha Insurance, which joined the men’s premier volleyball league only last season. Santos emphasized that the focus now is to sustain the team’s energy and chemistry as they face defending champion Cignal on Wednesday at Paco Arena.

Savouge, meanwhile, was led by Mark Calado and Shawie Caritativo, who combined for 39 points but could not prevent their side from falling to 0-1.