TEAM Galaw flexed its muscles over Team Hataw to score a 25-21, 23-25, 25-18, 25-20 victory in the inaugural Spikers’ Turf All-Star Game on Sunday at the PhilSport Arena in Pasig City.
Team Galaw, bannered by collegiate stars, beat the veterans-laden Team Hataw in 95 minutes in the All-Star Game extravaganza organized by Sports Vision, Shakey’s and ABS-CBN Sports + Action.
Greg Dolor of Instituto Estetico Manila (IEM), Marck Espejo of Ateneo de Manila and Rodolfo Labrador of Air Force led Team Galaw with 10 points each.
Open Conference Most Valuable Player Dolor bagged the Best Player of the Game honors with his 10 hits out of 20 attempts.
“We worked as a team to give our opponents a good fight as well as a great entertainment for the fans,” said Dolor, also a Far Eastern University Tamaraw. “I hope that the volleyball community won’t stop giving their support for the sport.”
Cignal’s Peter Torres chipped in seven points, while his teammate Raymark Woo and Ateneo’s Rex Intal added six apiece for Team Galaw. Blue Eagles setter Ish Polvorosa made 26 excellent sets.
Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro, who called the shots for Team Galaw along with Jun Balobar of IEM and Macky Carino of Cignal, were ecstatic not only for their victory but also for men’s volleyball and the victims of Typhoon Lawin—the beneficiaries of the fund-raising event.
“It was a one of a kind experience because we enjoyed the game and at the same time we were able to help the typhoon victims,” Almadro said. “Of course, we would like to thank abs-cbn and Sports Vision for coming up with this All-Star Game because this is the first time for men’s division and it shows that we have a lot of talented players in the country.”
After splitting the first two sets, Team Galaw exploded in the third but still faced a stubborn Team Hataw side that refused to wilt.
Team Hataw committed four straight errors, two by Kheeno Franco of IEM and one each by National University’s Ismail Fauzi and Bryan Bagunas that pushed Team Galaw at match point. Reymark Woo of Cignal nailed the match-clinching hit.
Air Force’s Mark Gil Alfafara carried the load for Team Hataw with 14 points.