MANILA – D’Navigators-Iloilo did not show any rust from a lengthy break. It defeated PGJC-Navy Sealions, 28-26, 25-21, 20-25, 15-25, 15-11, in the 2023 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference on Wednesday night at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Jade Disquitado, coming off a training camp with the national men’s volleyball team in Taiwan, fired 21 points in his return and helped the D’Navigators-Iloilo remain perfect with a 5-0 card.
Mfena Gwaza and Jerome Cordez also made their presence felt for the Ilonggos with 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Rash Nursiddik also hit double-digits in scoring with 10 markers.
John Michael Apolinario also got his contributions for D’Navigators-Iloilo with 29 excellent sets while Johnmark Espanso had double-double 23 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.
D’Navigators-Iloilo blew its chance to sweep the Sealions as it came out a little bit complacent after they handily won the first two sets to allow the latter to send the match to a fifth set.
Trailing by one in the final set, D’Navigators-Iloilo went to Deanne De Pedro and Disquitado, who responded and keyed the team’s big 4-0 run that allowed them to take a 13-10 lead.
De Pedro committed a net violation which pulled the Sealions closer but Disquitado took over and scored over Navy’s blockers on two consecutive attempts to finish off the Sealions.
D’Navigators-Iloilo head coach John Kenneth Panes rued that his players took their opponents for granted in the third and fourth set but is glad that his wards regained their form at the right time.
“Sabi ko ibalik lang nila yung intensity nila kasi nung third set and fourth set wala e. Masyadong relaxed, complacent sila, so sabi ko kung gusto nilang manalo, kailangan mag-trabaho sila kasi kung gustong manalo, dapat paghirapan,” Panes said.
“Konting adjustment lang din. Sa kanila mismo nanggalin, sila yung nag-relax kaya ganun yung result nung pagre-relax nila. At least ngayon nakabawi sila,” added the Ilonggo mentor./PN
