By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Jay Rack dela Noche and AEP-Cabstars secured the bronze medal in the 2026 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, turning back Alpha Insurance, 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan City.

The Negrense delivered a commanding performance, finishing with a match-high 23 points built on 22 attacks while adding seven excellent digs, leading the Cabstars’ charge on both ends of the floor.

Playmaker EJ Casaña orchestrated the offense with precision, tallying 39 excellent sets and consistently putting his hitters in prime scoring positions as the Cabstars dictated the tempo for most of the contest.

Despite being assembled just two weeks before the tournament, AEP-Cabstars showed cohesion and composure throughout the bronze medal series.

The squad controlled the opening two sets before Alpha Insurance forced an extension by taking a tightly contested third frame.

“Very happy kasi first appearance ulit namin, nag-bronze agad kami,” head coach Kitty Antiporta said.

“Despite na within two weeks lang kami nabuo, ang maganda dito pataas kami. Naging resilient lang kami regardless sa nangyari sa previous games,” the coach added.

The Cabstars appeared poised to complete a sweep after erasing a deficit in the third set to tie at 22, but a quick attack from Nas Gwaza and a costly service error by Dela Noche allowed Alpha Insurance to stay alive.

Unfazed, AEP-Cabstars regrouped in the fourth, tightening their defense and leaning on Dela Noche’s firepower alongside Jared Schnake, who added 14 points and posted a solid showing in reception with a 14-of-20 clip.

Gwaza chipped in 12 points, while Vince Lorenzo anchored the backline with 28 excellent receptions and 17 digs in an all-around effort.

On the other side, Wesley Cajolo led Alpha Insurance with 22 points, while Rommel Baptista contributed 12 points, along with 26 excellent receptions and seven digs, in the losing effort./ASC, WDJ