Spikers’ Turf: Francis Saura anchoring D’Navigators perfect start

Francis Saura.–SPIKERS’ TURF

MANILA, Philippines — Francis Saura has emerged as the driving force behind the undefeated cruise of the D’Navigators in the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference.

After coming off the bench last season, Saura has been embracing a bigger role for the D’Navigators, proving his worth as a starter by steering his team to a 4-0 surge in the country’s premier men’s volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.

The 6-foot-5 winger showed the way with 15 points built on 10 attacks and five kill blocks in the rousing 25-16, 25-18, 25-17 victory over Maverick last Wednesday.

Saura then towed the D’Navigators once again two days later, anchoring with 12 points on 10 spikes and two rejections in the hard-earned 25-20, 25-23, 26-24 sweep of VNS-Nasty.

For his unrelenting efforts that buoyed his team to a share of the lead with defending champion Cignal, Saura earned the second Spikers’ Turf Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of April 3 to 5.

“Natural lang ‘yun sa athlete na if ever na-bench ka, nakaka-down ‘yun somewhat. Nakaka-down kahit hindi mo naman sabihin. Tinake ko lang ‘tong opportunity na ‘to, noong na first six ako, na ibibigay ko talaga best ko no matter what,” Saura said.

“Kahit anong instruction ‘yung pinapagawa sa akin, pinipilit ko i-absorb tsaka i-execute ng maayos. Ayun, grateful naman ako na isa ako ulit sa naging first six.”

The former National University stalwart edged PGJC-Navy skipper Greg Dolor and Cignal captain JP Bugaoan for the weekly honor deliberated upon by print and online scribes covering the league, which is also streamed live at www.spikersturf.ph.

While he continues to solidify his bearings for the D’Navigators, Saura is eager to further elevate his game, as he only made a switch from being a middle blocker to an opposite hitter last year.

“Medyo mahirap kasi sa defense. Sa middle blocker kasi, hindi siya masyado dumedepensa saktuhan lang. Unlike kasi sa opposite spiker, ‘yung depensa kasi sa likod, isa rin ‘yun sa factor na kailangan ko pa iangat bilang opposite spiker,” he said.

“Sa palo naman, nakaka-adjust naman ako kasi parang ang kagandahan naman kasi sa position na ‘yun parang itaas mo lang tapos magiging creative ka nalang paano pumatay. Naghahanap lang din ako ng mga ways para pumatay if ever na pag may ginawa ako tapos naba-block, nache-check or hindi nakapatay, nag iisip ako ng ibang paraan pa para maka-contribute sa team.”

Saura and the rest of the D’Navigators seek to sustain their winning ways when they collide with powerhouse Criss Cross on April 10, Wednesday, at the Paco Arena.