Veteran Air Force squad nets 3rd in Spikers’ Turf; Espejo is MVP

Considered one of the oldest teams in the league, the Philippine Air Force Airmen proved on Tuesday that they had enough gas left in their tank as they swept the younger Cignal HD Spikers, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20, to finish third in the inaugural season of Spikers’ Turf at San Juan Arena.

Jeffrey Malabanan once again starred for the Airmen, finishing with 17 points. Younger reinforcements Edwin Tolentino and Reuben Inaudito chalked up 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Coach Rhovyl Verayo credited his squad’s third-place finish to team work and organized defense.

‘Yung blending ng team, pwera kay Inaudito at Tolentino, ‘yung lima ko sa loob, matagal nang magkakasama. Mga seven years or eight years na sila magkakasama kaya kaunting adjustments na lang sa mga bata,” Verayo said.

(The blending of the team [was a factor]. Aside from Inaudito and Tolentino, my five players inside have been together for a long time. They’ve been playing for about seven or eight years already so we just needed little adjustments.)

Inaudito and Tolentino were towers in front of the net as they conspired for seven of the Air Force’s nine blocks.

Edmar Bonono had to bleed for his points as he finished with 10 kills to pace the HD Spikers.

Jesse Lopez (Air Force), Best Setter; Reyson Fuentes (Cignal) Best Middle Blocker; Marck Jesus Espejo ( Cagayan), MVP and Best Open Spiker; Mark Alfafara (PLDT) Best Opposite Spiker; Peter Torres (Cagayan), Best Middle Blocker; JP Torres (PLDT), Best Open Spiker; Erickson Ramos (Cagayan), Best Libero.

Meanwhile, UAAP back-to-back MVP Marck Jesus Espejo of Cagayan continued his winning ways as he copped MVP honors. He and PLDT’s John Paul Torres were named Best Open Spikers, while Reyson Fuentes and Peter Torres of Cagayan were awarded Best Middle Blockers. PLDT’s Mark Gil Alfafara was Best Opposite Spiker, Air Force’s Jesse Lopez was Best Setter and Cagayan’s Erickson Ramos was Best Libero. CC