By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Iloilo D’Navigators secured a seat in the semifinals of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Men’s
Champions League after a 25-18, 25-22, 25-19 victory over the Philippine Army Defenders at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday night, February 14.
John San Andres led the way for the Ilonggos with 17 points, all coming from attacks, Kyle Villamor added 11 markers apiece, while Jayvee Sumagsasay and Abdurasad Nursiddik contributed 10 points each.
“We’re harnessing for the semifinals, and as I said before, if we stay consistent, we’ll sail all the way to the finals,” said Iloilo coach Rizalito Delmoro, whose team earlier swept the Philippine Air Force and VNS Asereht for a 3-0 record in Pool B.
For their part, the Cignal HD Spikers also reached the semifinals round after rolling past the Savouge Spin Doctors, 25-15, 25-16, 25-22, for an unbeaten 3-0 win-loss record in Pool A.
All players, except for the liberos, scored in Cignal’s straight-sets victory, led by Philippine men’s volleyball team member Joshua Umandal with 11 points on nine hits and two aces.
“Ito naman ‘yung unang goal namin ngayong elims, na makapunta ng semifinals. One at a time, ngayon nandito na kami, so we will prepare harder para makapunta ng championship,” HD Spikers head coach Dexter Clamor said.
Frederick Calado, the former PNVF Champions League MVP, added eight, with team captain JP Bugaoan, Madz Gampong and Ruvince Abrot adding five points each for Cignal HD.
Meanwhile, the College of St. Benilde Blazers fended off PGJC-Philippine Navy, 26-24, 25-22, 14-25, and 25-22, to clinch the No. 2 seed in Pool A and the final ticket to the Final Four.
Jacob Herrera and Mike Balbacal posted 12 points each, while James Marasigan had 11 for the Blazers, which will face Pool B’s top-ranked team, Iloilo D’Navigators, in the knockout semis.
VNS Asereht clinched the remaining semifinals spot from Pool B following a 25-17, 28-30, 25-21, 31-29 conquest of the Philippine Air Force.
Charles Segui sizzled for a game-high 22 points for VNS./ASC, WDJ