Cignal and Iloilo face-off in a key duel for a crack the first championship berth even as Imus and Cotabato knock each out in the semifinal round of the Spikers’ Turf Open Conference at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum today (Friday).
The HD Spikers smothered the Imus AJAA Spikers, 25-23, 25-19, 25-15, while the D’Navigators held off the Cotabato Spikers, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23, in last Wednesday’s start of the round robin semis, giving them the momentum to go for the first finals slot.
That ensures a heated battle in the 3 p.m. opener although the HD Spikers enjoy a big psychological edge, having trounced the D’Navigators, 25-19, 25-22, 25-15, in their elims encounter last March 10.
Cignal also boasts of a star-studded crew that dominated the elims via a 10-game sweep.
But coach Dexter Clamor remains wary of their chances, stressing the need for his wards to be ready.
“Same na paghahanda na ginagawa namin before kahit sino yung kalaban. Lahat naman ng teams na nasa semifinals ay malalakas e, so paghahandaan namin ng maigi,” said Clamor.
“Kahit mga bata ‘yan kasi yung mga bata nga mas aggressive pa ‘yan kagaya nung nangyari sa amin sa NU, ‘di ba? We will prepare, though short lang yung time, we will prepare nang mabuti para sa game namin,” added Clamor, referring to their four-set victory over the NU Builders that foiled their record bid for sweeping the elims without dropping a set.
Cignal will once again bank on Marck Espejo, who converted 15 attacks out of 25 attempts to finish with 19 points against Imus. Meanwhile, Iloilo will rely on Jade Disquitado anew as the D’Navigators go flat-out for another reversal after foiling the fancied Cotabato Spikers.
“Nakalaban na rin naman namin Cignal. Matibay, pero sige pwede naman. Malay mo ibigay ulit sa amin, ‘di ba? Kagaya nitong laro namin (sa Cotabato),” said Iloilo head coach Kenneth Panes.
The 6 p.m. duel between Cotabato and Imus also packs a lot of promise although the former is confident it could score a repeat over the latter whom it swept in the elims.
Jau Umandal, Jayvee Sumagaysay, and Steven Trotter will spearhead Cotabato’s assault against the Hero Austria-led Imus with the winner tie-ing the loser in the Cignal-Iloilo clash for second and staying in the finals hunt.
