Bryan James Jaleco powered the Philippine Air Force Airmen past the VNS-Nasty Griffins to end their 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference campaign on a positive note.
Bryan James Jaleco and the Philippine Air Force Airmen overcame the VNS-Nasty Griffins in five sets, 29-27, 15-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-13, finishing their 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference campaign on a triumphant note at the PhilSports Arena Friday.
Jaleco poured a double-double effort of 21 points and 13 receptions for the Airmen, who battled back from a set down to come away victorious and end their bid with a 2-6 record.
After pulling off a squeaker in the opening set, Air Force struggled to seize control in the second and third frames, where Wewe Medina and Ronjey Adviento took turns dealing the damage to push the Griffins to a 2-1 set advantage.
Jaleco and Wesley Cajolo then took flight for the Airmen in the fourth set before Air Force carried over momentum and took a 13-11 lead in the decisive fifth set.
Cajolo nailed a hit through the block to put Air Force at match point but Rocky Motol and Kenneth Culabat pummeled consecutive blows, giving VNS-Nasty a lease on life. Refusing to extend the match to a two-to-win situation, Herald Domingo delivered the game-clinching point.
Cajolo made his presence felt with 18 points built on 16 attacks and two blocks, while Pol Salvador providing ample support with 11 markers and 10 receptions.
Domingo anchored above the net, accounting for half of the team’s 10 blocks on his way to eight points for Air Force, which strung 12 excellent sets from Lee Villegas.
The Griffins, on the other hand, could not capitalize on their lead, faltering in the end to settle with the same 2-6 record.
Medina saw his triple-double output of 23 points, 20 receptions, and 12 digs go down the drain, while Adviento’s 20-point production went for naught. Culabat had 16 points and 11 receptions in the losing cause.