D’NAVIGATORS Iloilo and Savouge have reinforced their respective lineups as they gear up for the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference, which kicks on Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Both teams are looking to improve on their near-podium finishes in the Open Conference earlier this year, where D’Navigators placed fourth and the Spin Doctors finished fifth. Now, both are determined to make their mark in the season-ending tournament.
With both squads eyeing a Top 3 finish, they have made key roster adjustments that could propel them to their first podium appearance.
D’Navigators may have lost their 2024 Open Best Opposite Spiker, Francis Saura, to Criss Cross, but they’ve added firepower with seasoned hitters Madz Gampong from Cignal, Bryan Jaleco from Air Force, and Barbie San Andres from VNS.
The Boyet Delmoro-coached team also tapped 2023 Invitationals MVP Vince Himzon, further boosting their chances for a deep run in the tournament.
On the other side, Savouge, now under the guidance of new head coach Sydney Calderon, has brought in former University of the Philippines standout Louis Gamban to energize their attack. With this key addition, Savouge is positioning itself as a strong contender in the league organized by Sports Vision.
Meanwhile, PGJC-Navy will keep its solid core intact, featuring the duo of Greg Dolor and Joeven Dela Vega, along with the steady play of Jack Kalingking and Louie Pudadera. The team is coming off a bronze-medal finish in the previous conference and looks to ride that momentum into the Invitational.
Other teams have also made key changes. Chichi DHTSI (formerly Richmarc) welcomed Obet Javier as their new head coach, with Jonathan Sorio taking on a leadership role to spearhead the Titans’ campaign in the league backed by ArenaPlus, Mikasa, and Alpha Insurance & Surety Company.
Martelli Meats, which previously competed as Maverick, will also debut a new tactician, Michael Conde, while maintaining a roster similar to the one that performed admirably in the last conference as the Hard Hitters.
VNS, a staple in the Spikers’ Turf competition, remains focused on developing young talent. The Griffins will compete with an average player age of 19.5, with all athletes born in the 2000s, save for veteran guest player Ben Labide, who will provide leadership and experience to the youthful squad.
Games will be aired live via One Sports, One Sports+, and through the Pilipinas Live app, which will also offer video-on-demand features. Matches will also be streamed on the official Spikers’ Turf website.
