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Yuji Kawagoe was a man possessed, helping Japanese team Maruichi Hyogo survive Saints and Lattes Letran, 20-25, 25-16, 25-21, 22-25, 15-11, and end their Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference stint with a bronze medal on Friday at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Erupting for 32 points, Kawagoe delivered nine of the Maruichi’s 15 points in the fifth as the Japanese displayed grace under pressure despite dropping the fourth set, which allowed Letran to force a decider behind Vince Himzon’s 21-point effort.
The Maruichi ace scored four straight points for a 5-2 start in the fifth set, which set the tone for their dominant showing in the frame before he scored the last two points to end the grueling two-hour match.
