D'Navigators soared to victory against the formidable Criss Cross in the opening round-robin semifinals of the 2024 Spikers' Turf Open Conference.
Francis Saura led his team to a thrilling four-set triumph, clinching the win with a scoreline of 16-25, 27-25, 25-21, 25-17 at the iconic Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila.
Saura, visibly elated by the triumph, confessed to feeling surreal in the wake of their remarkable performance.
The former National University standout showcased his prowess on the court, delivering an impressive 20 points from 41 attack attempts, earning him the title of the game's highest scorer. For Saura, the victory held special significance, considering the caliber of the opponents they faced.
“Sobrang tamis kasi matagal ko na silang naging teammates, matagal ko na silang nakakalaban tapos parang angat talaga sila. Buo talaga sila kasi karamihan sa kanila galing UAAP,” Saura said.
Despite a previous loss to Criss Cross in the elimination round, Saura and his team remained undeterred, drawing motivation from their earlier defeat.
"Siguro yung edge namin is nandun yung gigil namin. Kasi nung first round, nung eliminations, umabot kami ng 32-30 sa set three, so nandon yung possibility na kaya namin talaga sila,” said Saura.
Saura emphasized the significance of the win not just for himself but for his teammates, many of whom didn't hail from UAAP or NCAA teams.
The unexpected victory served as a morale boost for the underdogs of D'Navigators as they prepare to face Cignal and PGJC-Navy in the upcoming semifinals, teams that had previously defeated them.
“It means na kaya namin. Kahit na yung mga kasama ko karamihan hindi galing sa UAAP, hindi galing sa NCAA. Basta dedicated ka lang sa paglalaro ng volleyball saka nandoon yung determination at tiwala mo sa teammates at sa team, kaya namin manalo,” said Saura.
“Ewan ko lang if may other term pa sa na sobra sa boost, pero ganun kasi sila rin yung nilu-look up namin. Kung paano namin sila tatalunin. Tapos yung mga skills nila, strategies nila, nilu-look up namin. Nung natalo namin sila, sobrang nakaka-boost yun kasi kaya pala namin,” he continued.
Saura concluded with a note of determination, highlighting their readiness to push their limits further as the semis continues on Friday.
