FEU Tamaraws improve to 2-0 in Spikers’ Turf

FEU’s Dryx Saavedra in Spikers’ Turf.–PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — DN Steel-Far Eastern University continued to haunt club teams after stunning D’Navigators Iloilo, 25-18, 16-25, 25-22, 25-20, in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference on Sunday night at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Dryx Saavedra and Mikko Espartero drilled the big blows to keep the Ultras unbeaten in two games in the men’s club tournament with the latter nailing consecutive blocks followed by back-to-back kills to overcome D’Navigators in one hour and 49 minutes.

Saavedra, the V-League Finals MVP, sustained his fine form with a game-high 21 points and made eight excellent digs, while Espartero paired it with an overload performance of 17 points off 15 attacks and two blocks.

READ: FEU opens Spikers’ Turf campaign on winning note

Setter Benny Martinez made 22 excellent sets, while Vennie Ceballos protected the floor with 20 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.

“Talagang nag-prepare kami maigi kila D’Navigators kasi alam natin mga veteran players ‘yung nasa kanila so sila (Jayvee) Sumagaysay, ‘yan ‘yung mga panahon na naging Best Middle Blocker during his time sa UAAP,” said DN Steel-FEU coach Eddieson Orcullo, who will have a two-week break before taking on the VNS Griffins on Nov. 3 at Philsports Arena.

“May (Edward) Camposano pa, ‘yung setter Kim (Dayandante), hindi matatawaran ‘yan kaya talagang nag-prepare kami sa kanila,”

Edward Camposana carried Iloilo with 15 points on 13 attacks and two blocks only to slide to a 1-1 record tied with VNS. Jayvee Sumagaysay had 14 points including three blocks, while Madz Gampong and Kyle Villamor settled for nine and seven points, respectively.

Meanwhile, VNS entered the win column after sweeping Martelli Meats, 25-21, 25-17, 29-27.

Despite several Griffins playing under the weather, they dominated the first two sets and withstood the Butchers’ tough challenge in the third as Titus Villacrusis’ quick attack and Kim Liray’s decisive swipe led to a block touch that sealed the one-hour, 28-minute victory 

“Trust in our teammates and coaches was key, and we stuck to the system all throughout,” said CJ Segui in Filipino, who earned player-of-the-game honors with a 14-point output and had 14 receptions and 10 digs “We didn’t give up and showed our composure in the stretch.”

READ: FEU Tamaraws relish V-League experience ahead of Spikers’ Turf

Liray also scored 14 for VNS. Christian Olaes had 10 points on seven attacks and three blocks, while Titus Villacrusis and Wewe Medina, still recovering from illness, added eight and six points, respectively.

“Maganda naman ‘yung ginalaw nila. Actually may problem kami kasi ang daming may flu samin. ‘Yung middle blocker ko wala, ‘yung (Roderick) Medino na starter ko, hindi pa rin siya okay. Galing siya sa five-day na flu eh, ‘di pa siya nakaka-recover,” said VNS coach Ralph Ocampo.

“So ‘yung first two sets namin, setter talaga laro ni (Howard) Guerra eh, so talagang adjust kami sa training and ayun, we just prepared all the players to be ready in case na matawag namin sila to serve the team.”

Martelli Meats fell to 0-2 with Andrei Bundoc and Jerome Cordez leading the way with 10 and nine points, respectively, while Razell Palisoc and Angelo Reyes had eight apiece.