MANILA, Philippines—Ending their first round campaign on a high-note, the Systema Active Smashers upended the Rizal Technological University Blue Thunder 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-17, 25-22) at the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Men’s Division at the Arena in San Juan Thursday evening.
Amidst a string of errors, the Active Smashers pulled it together in the end game with Roland Tonquin and Angelo Espiritu rising high in the defensive to give Systema a first place tie with IEM Phoenix Volley Masters with a win-loss slate of 2-1.
Espiritu and Mark Lee scored on back-to-back possessions to make it 23-22 for the Active Smashers as RTU committed a team blunder that gave the match point to Systema.
Systema head coach Arnold Laniog admitted that his team’s 40 errors were so much for them that it fueled the youngsters of RTU to step on the gas pedal in the second set.
“We were fighting against ourselves in the second set,” Laniog said. “We committed five consecutive errors in the set and RTU pounced on it.”
He added that victory would come to those who would take the upper hand after the 1-1 set, and his team responded in the third.
Systema continued their run in the fourth, albeit thee see-saw action.
With the scores tied at 11 apiece, the Active Smashers cruised to a 5-1 sprint with Patrick Rojas capping it off with an attack that bounced off the RTU defense.
Laniog was thankful for his Salvador Depante and Lee who stepped up in the absence of their main man Christopher Antonio.
Depante was everywhere on the Systema court in the fourth set with his relentless attacking and the occasional receiving game.
“I’m thankful for Depante and Lee, they really stepped up for us,” Laniog said.
Depante led all scorers with 26 while Espiritu followed suit with 19.
Sahud Masahud, Alnasip Laja and Carlo Sebastian combined for 34 for RTU who ended their first round campaign at a win-loss slate of 1-2.