DOMINANCE. Vince Virrey Himzon of Saints and Lattes-Letran against Levi De Vera and Alihfaisal Gampong of Santa Rosa City during the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday (Oct. 25, 2023). Himzon scored 15 points, highlighted by 12 attacks and three aces to lift Letran beat Santa Rosa in three straight sets. (PVL Images)
MANILA – Vince Virrey Himzon scored 15 points, 12 on attacks, to lift the Saints and Lattes-Letran pulled off a 25-21, 25-18, 25-16 victory over Santa Rosa in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference at the Paco Arena in Manila on Wednesday.
Himzon, the NCAA Season 98 Rookie of the Year, also had three aces while John Derrick Bautista finished with 11 attacks, two blocks and one ace for Letran, which joined Davies Paints-Adamson on top of Pool C.
Steven Sta. Maria contributed 11 points while John Wayne Arano made 13 excellent sets in a match that lasted for 89 minutes.
“Actually, based doon sa performance nila, nakita ko yung excitement nila sa first set pa lang. Gusto nilang manalo. So, although maraming errors, na-handle namin yung game sa pacing naming. Nag-contribute yung middle saka outside spikers namin (Actually, based on their performances, I saw their excitement in the first set. They want to win. So, although there were many errors, we handled the game with our pacing. Our middle and outside spikers contributed),” Letran head coach Brian Esquibel said.
“This is the first time na napasama ulit kami sa Spikers’ Turf. We are very lucky na maka-join with the support of Saints and Lattes. Syempre, thank you rin sa school kasi pinayagan kaming makasama ngayon (This is the first time that we joined the Spikers' Turf again. We are very lucky with the support of Saints and Lattes. Of course, thank you also to our school for allowing us to be here),” he added.
Levi De Vera led Santa Rosa with four attacks, two blocks and one ace followed by Exequiel Harvey Quezada and Alihfaisal Gampong, who scored five points each.
Rikko Marius Marmento had 12 excellent receptions while Esmitzo Polvorosa had eight digs.
Santa Rosa's next game will be against HD Spikers on Sunday on Oct. 29 while Letran will battle powerhouse Cignal on Nov. 3.
"Actually, pinaghahandaan namin yung Cignal kasi syempre dahil nandoon yung mga idol nila naglalaro. Napakasarap makita yung mga players na makakalaban nila yung mga idol nila (Actually, we are preparing for Cignal because, of course, their idols are playing there. It's great to see the players who will compete against their idols)," Esquibel said. (PNA)
