LIPA CITY. – Go for Gold-Air Force found the VNS Manileño Spikers a tough nut to crack before carving out a 23-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 15-11 victory in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation Champions League men’s inaugurals Monday at the Aquamarine Recreational Center here.
With the Manileño Spikers closing in a 11-13, Kim Malabunga’s kill put the Aguilas at match point before Mark Alfafara closed out the exciting two-hour, 11-minute contest with a block on Roniey Adviento.
After earning its first win in the three-team Pool A, coach Dante Alinsunurin knows that Go for Gold cannot afford to be complacent when it shoots for a spot in the semifinals against the Basilan Steel Spikers Amin-Anak Mindanao at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
“Any team can beat everybody,” said Alinsunurin, whose Aguilas trained only two weeks before the competition. “We have a fresh start and the team which is very determined to win will reach on top.”
Alfafara had five blocks overall to finish with 19 points to go with nine digs while Malabunga and John Vic de Guzman each had 16 points for Go for Gold.
