The Team Dasma Monarchs completed the biggest upset of the 2021 PNVF Champions League as they were named the inaugural champions.
The Monarchs leaned on their defense and took advantage of the error-plagued play of the Go for Gold-Air Force Aguilas to hammer out a 19-25, 26-24, 25-18, 25-17 victory in their heated finals matchup on Saturday in Batangas.
The victory also sealed a spotless run for Team Dasma after they ended the preliminary round with a 3-0 slate followed by a five-set triumph of the Manileño Spikers in the semifinal stage.
After dropping the opening set, Team Dasma was trailing for the most part of the second frame but Arnold Bautista tied the match at 23 as part of their comeback in the frame. Madz Gampong gave the Monarchs the first set point, 24-23, before Kim Malabunga saved one for Go for Gold.
Another hit from Gampong coupled by an attack error from John Vic de Guzman tied the game at one set apiece.
Team captain Jayvee Sumagaysay, Gampong, and Bautista conspired in the third set as they took a 2-1 advantage over a more veteran side of Go for Gold, who is composed mainly of national team members.
The Norman Miguel-mentored club was just unstoppable in the fourth set.
They unleashed back-to-back denials on Go for Gold's attacks for an 11-5 cushion before Bautista again put them up by six, 16-10. The Aguilas would then drill three straight attacks courtesy of De Guzman and Fauzi Ismael, 19-14.
That would serve as the last gasp run by Go for Gold as Team Dasma cruised to the victory.
Mark Calado led the offensive charge for Team Dasma after carving out 18 points while Gampong and Bautista registered 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
On the side of Go for Gold, De Guzman finished with game-high 22 points but that wasn't enough to lift his club. Mark Alfafara was also among the bright spots for the Aguilas after he chipped in 15.
