MEGA Builders didn’t expect much when it joined the men’s division of the Premier Volleyball League Open Conference. But into the Final Four and nearing a sweep of the elims, the Volley Bolt now just couldn’t help but hope for the best.
Backstopped by the National University aces, the Volley Bolt have defied the odds and racked up six straight wins, including a shock victory over the heavily favored and reigning Reinforced Conference champion Cignal HD Spikers, 26-24, 26-24, 25-17, last July 19.
The solid start netted the newcomers an outright spot in the Final Four and could complete a sweep of the elims of the mid-season conference of the league organized by Sports Vision with another victory over defending champion Air Force tomorrow.
Cignal is currently at second with a 5-1 record while Air Force totes a 4-2 slate for third.
Unlike the star-studded Cignal and Air Force sides, Mega Builders relies on cohesion.
“The key for us is that we play as a team and family,” said Mega Builders coach Dante Alinsunurin.
Fauzi Ismael, Francis Philip Saura, Kim Malabunga, Bryan Bagunas, Ricky Marcos and Kim Harold Dayandante have been dishing out one big game after the other to steer the Volley Bolt to the top of the heap.
Alinsunurin said initially, they just wanted to compete and gain experience as part of their buildup for the UAAP wars, scheduled early next year.
“We just want to just compete and get the experience here to prepare us for the UAAP competition,” said Alinsunurin. “We didn’t really expect to beat almost everyone because we know we’re facing strong teams with experience and talented players.”
Now they are the ones being chased.
Alinsunurin said they might as well dream bigger.
“Nothing to celebrate yet but if we get the chance to win the title, we might as well go for it,” he said.
