Iloilo picked up where it left off and survived PGJC-Navy in five sets, 28-26, 25-21, 20-25, 15-25, 15-11, in the 2023 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Paco Arena, Wednesday night.
Jade Disquitado, who trained with the national team in Taiwan, fired 21 points in his return and helped the D’Navigators remain perfect with a 5-0 card.
Mfena Gwaza and Jerome Cordez provided 14 and 13 points, respectively while Rash Nursiddik chipped in 10 markers in the win.
“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,” said Iloilo head coach John Kenneth Panes.
“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,” he added.
Iloilo already had the opportunity to close the game up in straight sets after bagging the first and second frames but came out lax in the next two sets which allowed the Sealions to tie the game and send it to a decider.
Trailing by one in the final set, Deanne De Pedro and Disquitado took charge in a four-to-nothing blast that allowed the D’Navigators to overtake Navy, 13-10.
De Pedro committed a net violation which pulled the Sealions closer but Disquitado took over from there and scored over Navy’s blockers on two consecutive attempts to finish off what they started.
John Michael Apolinario had 29 excellent sets in the game for Iloilo while Johnmark Espanso had 23 excellent receptions and 10 excellent digs.
Iloilo will face Sta. Rosa City on Friday at 5:30 PM while Navy will return on March 10, Friday to face AMC-Cotabato at 3:00 PM.
