NICO Almendras and Edward Camposano lifted Sta. Elena to upset Rebisco-Philippines, 25-23, 27-25, 21-25, 25-18, on Thursday in the 2019 Spikers’ Turf Reinforced Conference at the Paco Arena.
UAAP Season 81’s top rookie Almendras showed his full potential against the Nationals as he led the Ball Hammers with 18 points off 14 attacks, three blocks, and an ace, while Camposano chipped in 14 points.
“Siguro masama lang ‘yung laro nung RP. Wala silang receive eh, kitang kita naman,” said Sta. Elena assistant coach Dong Dela Cruz, who beat his head coach in both Sta. Elena and national team, Dante Alinsunurin.
“Kami naman nothing to lose eh [pero] at least nakita namin kung anong potential meron ‘yung team namin ngayon,” Dela Cruz added.
Bryan Bagunas, who also played for Air Force earlier, led the Philippines with 18 points, while team captain John Vic De Guzman added 12 markers as the Rebisco-backed squad suffered its second defeat after eight exhibition matches.
Marck Espejo and Peter Torres didn’t play for the men’s national team as they played for Cignal earlier, while Rex Intal is nursing back spasms.
Cignal routed cellar dweller Easytrip, 25-17, 25-12, 25-17, to keep its hold of the No.1 spot after staying unbeaten in seven games.
JP Bugaoan led the HD Spikers with eight points, while Espejo, Jude Garcia, and Wendel Miguel had six points apiece but their head coach Dexter Clamor wasn’t convinced.
“Actually hindi pa rin ganon kaganda ‘yung nilaro namin eh, kasi kanina sinabi ko sa kanila [na] mahina o malakas ang kalaban, kailangan maging consistent tayo sa gagalawin natin,” said Clamor. “Yung consistency namin wala eh, like ‘yung basics, receive, service, ang daming errors, ‘yun ‘yung mga kailangan na punan namin.”
Easytrip absorbed its eighth loss in as many games.
Meanwhile, Go for Gold-Philippine Air Force took down Instituto Estetico Manila, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25, 25-19, for its fourth straight victory.
Bagunas powered the Jet Spikers with 12 points, while Madz Gampong and Ranran Abdilla chipped in nine points as they seized the hold of third spot with a 6-1 win-loss record.
“Okay naman, talagang naglaro naman ng maganda ‘yung IEM,” said Air Force head coach Rhovyl Verayo. “Nagpabaya lang kami so nakuha nila ‘yung third set, kaya pag dating ng fourth set ‘yung first six ko na ang pinasok ko.”
Razzel Palisoc scored 14 points for IEM while Mark Enciso added 12 as the Phoenix Volley Masters dropped its seventh game in eight outings.
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