Iloilo stayed unscathed after pummeling VNS in four, 23-25, 25-16, 25-22, 25-23, to rise atop the 2023 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference standings over idle Cignal and Cotabato on Sunday at Paco Arena in Manila.
The D’Navigators banked on team skipper Jerome Cordez, who punched in 17 points on 16 attacks to lift them to a pristine 3-0 record.
Middle blockers Naz Gwaza and Rashh Nursiddik made their presence felt as well with 14 and 10 points, respectively, while Neil De Pedro and Jade Disquitado chimed in 11 and 12 points.
“Yung determination to win ng players talaga nandiyan eh. Sabi ko maglaro lang kayo nang maayos, gawin niyo lang ‘yung part niyo para kung ano man ‘yung result, wala tayong pagsisisihan,” said Iloilo head coach John Kenneth Panes.
The D’Navigators bounced back from a close first set loss with a statement 25-16 answer in the second to equalize before showing their end-game composure in the third by coming away from a 21-all count to a 25-21 tally.
Pemie Bagalay brought the Griffins back within one in the fourth frame with a through-the-block kill before VNS subbed out Russel Fronda, who was about to serve, for Edward Andrada but his service went long to close the match.
“Ibalik niyo lang ‘yung intensity niyo kasi hindi kayo ganyan maglaro eh. ‘Yung intensity niyo bumaba kaya ganon,” Panes told his wards after dropping the opening salvo.
Fronda led VNS with 15 points on 12 attacks and three blocks, while Ron Medalla added 14 points on 12 spikes and two aces. Bagalay contributed 11 of his own.
The Griffins slipped to 1-2.
Both squads will be back next Sunday as Iloilo will open the first triple-header of the season against the Philippine Army at 12:30 pm, while VNS will face National U-Archipelago at 3 pm
